Raiders still refusing to name a starting QB, but they've given plenty of hints about Week 1

Klint Kubiak says the competition will continue, but Cousins has done little to lose his grip on the starting job Aug 21, 2026 at 12:02 pm ET • 3 min read With the start of the regular season just over three weeks away, the Las Vegas Raiders still haven't named a starting quarterback. Raiders coach Klint Kubiak had the chance to name a starter following the team's 22-20 preseason win over the Texans on Thursday night, but instead, he decided to keep everyone guessing. "We got another week of playing. I don't want anyone to be comfortable in their job," Kubiak said. "It should always be that way for all positions. So, let's keep going forward."That makes it sound like the battle between Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza will be raging on for another week, but based on what Kubiak has said throughout training camp, it seems like his decision has already been made; he's just not ready to share it. Who the Raiders starting QB will likely be in Week 1Right now, all signs point to Cousins. Over the course of training camp, the closest Kubiak has come to naming a starter came after the Raiders' first preseason game back on Aug. 13. In a 27-14 loss to the Cardinals, Cousins was on the field for exactly one offensive possession, and he was nearly perfect: The veteran quarterback went 5-of-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown. "Kirk's been getting the reps with the ones. I think he's had a solid training camp and it's his job to lose," Kubiak said.Those last five words are the key ones: It's his job to lose. In the week since those comments were made, Cousins hasn't really done anything to lose the job. The four-time Pro Bowler didn't play on Thursday night against the Texans, but he took part in a joint practice against Houston earlier this week. Cousins put together an up-and-down day against the Texans. On the negative side, he threw a pick-six to Kamari Lassiter, according to The Athletic, but he also made several big plays against a Texans team that will almost certainly have one of the best defenses in the NFL this year. "Probably would have liked to have finished a little stronger," Cousins said after Tuesday's practice, via The Athletic. "But we made some plays in the first few periods that we were pleased with, and we'll keep building from here."With Cousins struggling some, this could have been a spot where Mendoza closed the gap with the 38-year-old veteran, but instead, the No. 1 overall pick also struggled against Houston's defense. During the joint practice, Mendoza actually got some reps with the first team, which has been a rarity for him in training camp, but he wasn't able to outplay Cousins. Mendoza did make some highlight throws, but he also threw two interceptions during a red zone period, including a pick-six to Jalen Pitre, according to The Athletic. Although Cousins wasn't on the field for Thursday's preseason game, Mendoza was and the rookie got off to a rough start with a pick-six on his third pass of the game. Mendoza ended up finishing 8-of-15 for 86 yards, but the only touchdown he threw went to the other team. After the game, Kubiak said the rookie still has a lot to work on. "Plenty to clean up. Plenty to get better at," Kubiak said when asked about Mendoza's performance. "Plenty that we can do better for him as coaches. Plenty that he can learn from." With Mendoza facing a steep learning curve, it doesn't seem like he's done enough to take the job from Cousins. Kubiak said it was Cousins' job to lose, and if that's the case, it doesn't seem like he's done enough to lose it. Cousins likely won't play in the Raiders' final preseason game, which means he'll have been on the field for only one series over three games. Most coaches keep their veteran QB on the bench like that to keep their guy healthy for the season, which is another sign the Raiders will probably roll with Cousins in their opener against the Dolphins. Since the start of training camp, there's only been one instance in which Kubiak referred to Cousins as the starter, and that came on Day 1, July 28. "When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback," Kubiak said. "He's the guy, and he's going to get a ton of reps. He deserves them because he's played really good football. But I want Fernando and I want Aidan (O'Connell) to push him."The depth chart hasn't changed much at quarterback since that day, which is why "Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback" is something we'll probably hear Kubiak say again in the very near future.