The Las Vegas Raiders kick off Week 2 of NFL preseason action Thursday night against the Houston Texans. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium in Houston.
The two teams already faced off earlier this week in joint practice, where the Raiders' No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, got extensive reps with the first-team offense. Now fans will get to see how well those additional reps have paid off. Mendoza is set to start Thursday against the Texans, and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the team intends to have him on the field for most, if not all, of the first half.
Aidan O'Connell is expected to take over in the second half. More news: Lions HC Dan Campbell Gives Uneasy Update on TE Sam LaPorta In last week's preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza didn't see the field until near the end of the first quarter, with Kirk Cousins getting the start and leading an efficient opening drive. On that first series, Cousins went 5-of-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown.
Mendoza then entered and played the remainder of the first quarter and all of the second, finishing 10-of-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown — a 6-yard slant to second-year wideout Jack Bech. It was a solid debut considering it marked his first live NFL action, but fans only got to see him for three drives. Thursday night should look much different, and it'll come against tougher competition.
The Texans' defense is stacked with talent, offering Mendoza a valuable measuring stick as he continues adjusting to running with the starters. More news: Bears Insider Raises Concern Over Star CB’s Status Ahead of 2026 Season More news: Malik Willis Praises Competitive Fire in Dolphins’ Unproven WR Room Cousins remains locked in as QB1, but if Mendoza continues to perform well and carries that momentum into the regular season, his opportunity could come sooner rather than later.
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