HOUSTON — Sweaty after practice Tuesday and dressed in silver and black and red, Fernando Mendoza lamented the pick he threw in practice against the Houston Texans.
Or not.
“There were plays that I loved and plays that I wish I had back,” the Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback said at Houston Methodist Training Center. “But in reality, that’s a lie. I wish I didn’t have it back because it’s a growing experience. It’s practice. It’s practice and this is what I love.”
Having quarterbacked the first-team offense Tuesday with his preseason debut in the rearview mirror, Mendoza is ready to apply his takeaways Thursday against the Texans again at NRG Stadium. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said the reigning Heisman Trophy winner is set “to get lots of reps this preseason,” stopping short of specifying how much Mendoza will play versus Houston.
Mendoza last week in the opener led four drives with the second-team offense, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown to go with six rushing yards. His first and third drives went nowhere fast, but he capped his second drive with his scoring pass and led Las Vegas into field-goal range — in which rookie kicker Kansei Matsuzawa missed off the right upright from 38 yards — before ceding his position to Aidan O’Connell.
“There was a lot of things I saw against Arizona,” Mendoza said. “I think it was good to get my feet wet and we weren’t able to come out there with the win, which I put on myself because I think my teammates did fantastic. But I think it’s a good learning experience, and I’m looking forward to playing Houston because one, they’re a great defense. Two, I feel like now with the experience — be able to move forward.”
Scour Mendoza’s preseason debut and see him settle into Kubiak’s offense, commanding the huddle and pocket with poise increasingly as play evolved. Feet that were anxious on the opening drive were calmer into the second half as Mendoza progressed through his reads of the defense, delivering pass after pass with purpose.
Still, he intends to settle more having since reviewed his preseason debut.
“My feet were a little fast, a little out of control,” Mendoza explained. “(On Thursday, I want to) be a little more in control. Survey the field. See it a little better. I’m really excited for this upcoming game and all the opportunities that I have in the future.”
Asked if he expects the first team to play Thursday, Kubiak impassively said “we’ll see,” suggesting Mendoza might be in line to start instead of quarterback Kirk Cousins, who started last Thursday. It’s unclear how many of Houston’s starters (especially defensively) will play against Las Vegas, but if they all sit, Mendoza found out firsthand Tuesday what a top defense looks like in the NFL.
The Texans flustered the Raiders collective, coaxing Mendoza’s interception by the goal line and picking off Cousins at the end of practice. The All-Pro pass-rush tandem of Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter overwhelmed their offensive line. Running lanes were a rarity. Mishaps, short gains and incompletions weren’t.
Mendoza, after a spirited effort that garnered praise from Anderson, said he intended to watch the recording of practice to prepare for the game Thursday. He’s inviting the resistance he’s faced so far while knowing it can springboard his long-term improvement.
Interception on Tuesday be damned.
“There’s going to be negative plays,” Mendoza said. “Whether there’s a negative play, whether from the teammates, whether it’s me, whatever it is, we all are able to bounce back from it and have a forward-thinking and optimistic mindset.
“Whether it’s a tranquilo, which means ‘Calm’ in Spanish, I say ‘Tranquilo’ and move forward. You know, it’s all good. … I’m a rookie quarterback. I need to get better and learn from experiences.”
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
