Kirk Cousins opens Raiders' preseason with TD pass to Michael Mayer

Kirk Cousins opened the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason slate with an efficient first drive, completing 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards and hitting tight end Michael Mayer for a touchdown on the opening possession. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo and the MySportsUpdate account both flagged the quick score.

Cousins was steady on the possession, spreading the ball before finding Mayer for the score to put the Raiders on the board. The veteran quarterback is at the center of the Raiders' offseason quarterback plans after the club committed to him as its starter, and a clean preseason opening is an encouraging early sign for the offense under new coordinator Chip Kelly.

The touchdown connection with Mayer is notable for a Raiders offense that wants to feature its tight ends and lean on a more reliable passing game in 2026. Cousins finishing the first drive healthy and productive is the headline takeaway as Las Vegas builds toward the regular season.