Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza throws for 97 yards in 4 drives - ESPN

LAS VEGAS — Fernando Mendoza's preseason debut was fitting for the Raiders' rookie quarterback.

In the Raiders' 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza had moments when he looked like a young player still adjusting to the NFL's speed. And moments when he showed why Las Vegas trusts the Heisman Trophy winner to be the future face of the organization.

Coach Klint Kubiak's verdict: Mendoza looked like someone who has made significant strides in his development.

«I see an ascending player,» Kubiak said Thursday night. «We just got to keep getting better.»

Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown during four drives. He is the first No. 1 pick to throw a touchdown pass in his preseason debut since Baker Mayfield in 2018.

Mendoza's stat line was admirable. However, he couldn't help but nitpick his misthrows and misreads. He pointed out that his timing and anticipation need improvement.

«It showed me that I need to grow a lot,» Mendoza said. "… I'm definitely [watching the game film] after this. I have nothing else to do tonight."

When Mendoza entered the game at the 3:39 mark of the first quarter, he faced the tough challenge of upstaging veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins' near-flawless scoring drive to begin the game. Cousins completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards and threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to tight end Michael Mayer.

Mendoza's first drive wasn't as polished. He threw a pair of incompletions, and Las Vegas was forced to punt. Mendoza said he felt too much excitement, causing him to be anxious in the pocket. He credited his teammates for calming him down after that drive.

He flipped the script on the second drive. Mendoza zipped the ball in between Arizona's linebackers and safeties for a 19-yard