Raiders' Klint Kubiak on Possible QB Switch to Fernando Mendoza: 'We're Thinking About Everything'
After a fourth straight loss, Las Vegas' head coach wouldn't rule out benching Kirk Cousins for the No. 1 overall pick
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak opened the door to a quarterback change Sunday. Asked after a 35-21 loss to the Rams whether it's time to consider starting No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza over Kirk Cousins, Kubiak said everything is on the table.
That's a notable shift for a coach who has backed Cousins, his quarterback from their Minnesota days, all season. Las Vegas started 3-0 and has now lost four straight to fall to 3-4. Kubiak said he didn't consider pulling Cousins on Sunday, even down 22 points late in the third quarter, because the Raiders made it competitive down the stretch.
"At this point we're thinking about everything." 👀 Klint Kubiak on potentially starting Fernando Mendoza after 4 straight losses.View on X →
NFL Network (@nflnetwork): "At this point we're thinking about everything." 👀 Klint Kubiak on potentially starting Fernando Mendoza after 4 straight losses.
Cousins isn't really the problem. He threw for 295 yards and two touchdowns against the Rams and leads the league with 16 touchdown passes, against five interceptions. The defense has given up an average of 35.8 points per game since Week 4, and the run game hasn't produced 100 yards since Week 3. Ashton Jeanty averaged 1.9 yards on eight carries Sunday.
Cousins said nothing changes in his approach and that he'd be the first to say so if he weren't the best option. Mendoza, the Heisman winner, has played only in mop-up duty, going 6-of-8 for 48 yards late in the Week 5 loss to the Patriots.