As with most NFL preseason games, the storylines Thursday night were not of which Las Vegas Raiders’ players might make the biggest differences once the season kicks off for real.
Rather, those who likely won’t make much noise at all.
Yeah. That includes Fernando Mendoza.
What became clear long ago was merely solidified in an 18-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium.
That the rookie quarterback Mendoza will begin where he should — on the sidelines watching Kirk Cousins open the season against visiting Miami on Sept. 13.
Mendoza wasn’t overly stellar this training camp or during three preseason games. He had his good and bad days, his ups and downs, his highs and lows, his sharp reps and poor ones.
He is who he is right now — a first-year player trying his best to learn the toughest of positions at an NFL level.
And there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s a hard thing. It’s a tough league. There are no shortcuts.
Mendoza would finish 7-of-14 passing for 57 yards Thursday with an interception, which was on him when tipped via a high throw.
From there, it was about a lot of check-downs and short completions. He was sacked twice.
He’s probably where most should expect him right now, a lot of seasoning still needed, a lot of potential underneath that helmet.
One rookie who shined and the Raiders should feel good about was backup running back Mike Washington Jr., who gained 49 yards on eight carries.
Depending on how serious an ankle injury is to starter Ashton Jeanty, someone like Washington adding productive results is more than a good thing.
He needed to show continued improvement and did.
So, thankfully, all preseason games have passed and the next time we see these Raiders, it will be against the Dolphins.
When, as it should be, Cousins takes the field as a starting quarterback for Las Vegas and young Fernando Mendoza will continue to watch and learn and be all the better for it.
And there’s nothing wrong with that.
Ed Graney, a Sigma Delta Chi Award winner for sports column writing, can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com. Follow @edgraney on X.
