At Las Vegas’ OTAs open to the media on Wednesday, Kirk Cousins took the first-team reps, Aidan O’Connell followed, and No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza worked third and mostly with rookies during competitive periods. Raiders officials say they’ll let the decision
HENDERSON, Nev. — The first open look at the Raiders as a full team in motion landed on a simple hierarchy: Kirk Cousins with the first-team reps, Aidan O’Connell next, and Fernando Mendoza working third and mostly with rookies during the most competitive periods.
It wasn’t presented like a formal announcement. The Raiders have not laid out a plan for when they’ll name a starting quarterback. General manager John Spytek has said that “the best guy will play.” Still. the tone coming out of coach Klint Kubiak’s comments and the way the reps were handed out made Wednesday feel like a window into where the job could tilt.
Cousins took all of the first-team reps at Las Vegas’ OTAs practice Wednesday, the first session open to the media. O’Connell followed Cousins, while No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza worked third. Each quarterback appeared to get equal snaps during team drills.
Kubiak’s message was steady: don’t rush it, and don’t force the process. “It’s gonna reveal itself, especially in training camp,” Kubiak said Wednesday of naming a quarterback. “It’s gonna reveal itself here in the next eight OTAs and these minicamp practices. We definitely would (like to name a starter). but we’ll let the players figure that out for us with their tape.”.
The explanation for Mendoza’s positioning in the rotation had less to do with his raw talent than with the timing of what the Raiders are trying to build. His early reps are tied to his inexperience in the NFL and Kubiak’s offense. The Raiders are easing the Heisman Trophy winner into the pros. and Mendoza acknowledged during rookie minicamp that he has a lot of learning to do when it comes to playing under center in a West Coast scheme.
Kubiak said the approach of pairing Mendoza with developing players gives him time to learn on the job. At the same time, Cousins’ and O’Connell’s reps let Las Vegas assess how the new offense is being implemented.
The coach also pointed to what he’s seen from Mendoza up close. “It’s gonna reveal itself” is one part of the job; another part is whether the quarterback you’re developing can handle new information without getting overwhelmed.
Kubiak said he’s pleased with the returns he’s seen from Mendoza. He made impressive throws during practice. and when he did make mistakes—such as an overthrow of a seam route that would have been a sure touchdown—he sought criticism from Kubiak. offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko and quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan.
“Anything that you put in front of him, he’s going to attack it,” Kubiak said. “Anything that’s new, he spends extra time on it. You can tell he fixes things from one day to the next. Very coachable, and that can be said for all those quarterbacks in the room.”
Cousins, for his part, showed plenty of moments designed to impress the coaching staff beyond just arm talent. He made a series of strong throws during team drills. On one play, Cousins commanded a misaligned receiver to move into the right position to avoid a failed play. After a first-down conversion late in the session, Cousins let out an exuberant celebration.
“He’s a professional,” Kubiak said. “He’s played a lot of football. He’s a leader that we’re counting on right now. You see that side of him when it gets competitive. That was fun to get that ‘move the ball’ period and get guys off of scripts and see how they respond. You see the fire come out, and that’s what I want from our guys.”.
For all the talk about a competition, the Raiders’ quarterback room is still being shaped around one belief: leadership needs to show up now, while the future gets room to catch up.
Kubiak said Mendoza could be part of that future. “He’s as advertised,” Kubiak said. “He has not disappointed.”
The broader offseason mood was shaped by that same balance—letting players compete and learn while managing recoveries and absences.
Wednesday marked the first sight of Maxx Crosby on the field since his trade to the Baltimore Ravens fell apart in March. but the star pass rusher was not an active participant. Crosby stretched off to the side with no helmet or jersey as practice began. stayed for a short time afterward. dapping up his teammates as they warmed up before he left the session.
Crosby has expressed happiness to be back with the Raiders after Baltimore backed out of the trade. citing a failed physical. The Ravens’ concerns were over Crosby’s surgically repaired left knee. He underwent a procedure to fix a torn meniscus that ended his 2025 season. Back in Las Vegas, the Raiders said they’re pleased with how his recovery is coming along.
“He’s still the first one in this building every day working,” Kubiak said. “He’s a leader on our team, and when he’s out there, you feel his presence. We’re counting on him being there for training camp, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Maxx was ahead of schedule.”
Kubiak’s description of Crosby’s role has sounded like the same theme repeated in different places: leadership isn’t only measured in team reps. Crosby has been in the Raiders’ facility since returning to the team. While he hasn’t been participating in practices, Kubiak said he’s stayed connected with teammates throughout the recovery process.
“He’s going to be there as much as possible. and he knows that we’re counting on him to be a leader. ” Kubiak said. “He’s showing his face. but he’s also very engaged in the meetings. and he’s one of those guys you got to say. ‘Whoa’ to. You have got to pull him back. He might jump in there in team period if you’re not watching. He’s that competitive. I’m really fired up to get to coach him.”.
Kubiak said the goal is for Crosby to be ready by training camp. With excitement around his progress, it wouldn’t be a shock to see him return to action sooner.
The quarterback talk wasn’t the only part of the roster moving through the same offseason uncertainty. Rookie Jermod McCoy also made progress after the way his knee concerns shaped his earlier spring.
McCoy’s limited participation during rookie minicamp had been a relief after knee concerns caused him to fall in the draft. During OTAs, he participated in all sessions for the Raiders during the practice. He drilled during individual periods, caught punts during special teams, and got reps during team situations. Kubiak said McCoy was not overtly held out of any action. That’s different from rookie minicamp. when McCoy worked off to the side with a trainer during team periods and most individual drills.
Kubiak said Raiders wellness coordinator Alex Guerrero has developed a plan for McCoy’s knee as he returns from missing the 2025 season with a torn right ACL. McCoy has recovered from that injury, but it’s believed a cartilage issue led to his fall to the fourth round.
“Alex Guerrero has a great plan for him as far as how many yards we give him a day, the rest that we give them, the time on the field as opposed to the turf,” Kubiak said. “But the great thing about Jermod thus far is he’s responded really well.”
Kubiak said McCoy worked primarily with the rookies during team periods and looked fluid in his reps. The Raiders are happy with how he’s progressed, in his recovery and adaptation to the NFL.
“He’s been excellent,” Kubiak said. “He’s come in here and worked his tail off, doing everything that we’ve asked him to do. He’s got out there on the practice field and has shown the player that we’ve seen on tape, so just looking forward to progressing him, along with all those new DBs.”
Not every roster question was answered with presence on the field. Several veteran names were missing from Wednesday’s practice, even as the Raiders continue building momentum from offseason acquisitions meant to expedite their rebuild after finishing last in the league a year ago.
Defensive back Taron Johnson, wide receiver Jalen Nailor, linebacker Nakobe Dean, defensive tackle Benito Jones, and kicker Matt Gay were not present for the OTAs session. These practices are not mandatory, and early offseason work is also an opportunity for teams to get competitive reps.
Kubiak’s explanations weren’t all medical or football-related. Nailor and his wife welcomed their second child earlier in the week, while Dean posted on Instagram from a graduation ceremony during practice.
Nailor, Dean, Jones and Gay have all participated in the team’s offseason program before the start of OTAs. But there has been no sign of Johnson in Las Vegas since the Raiders acquired him from the Buffalo Bills in March. Kubiak said he didn’t express concern about the absence.
“It’s a voluntary time of year, can’t wait to get those guys back,” Kubiak said of Johnson and Dean. “Really fired up for the guys that are here but been in contact with both of those guys and they’ve been doing a great job, some here, some away.”
Johnson has two years left on a three-year, $30 million extension he signed with Buffalo. Very little of the $18 million he’s owed over the next two seasons is guaranteed, according to Over the Cap. It’s possible Johnson could be unhappy with the lack of guaranteed money. but no alarms would sound until mandatory minicamp.
With Johnson absent, Jeremy Chinn and second-round rookie Treydan Stukes shared the starting nickel spot in Johnson’s absence during the OTAs session.
By the end of Wednesday. it was clear what the Raiders wanted from this stage: competition. learning. and recoveries managed without forcing timelines that could backfire later. Cousins looked like the current favorite in the reps. Mendoza looked like a young quarterback being placed where the learning curve is least likely to break him.
And as Crosby’s recovery stays the centerpiece of the defensive timeline and McCoy’s knee plan stays on track, the quarterback decision appears to be the one job the Raiders are determined to let unfold—by tape, by practice, and by the eight OTAs that lead into minicamp.
Las Vegas Raiders OTAs Kirk Cousins Fernando Mendoza Aidan O’Connell Klint Kubiak John Spytek Maxx Crosby Taron Johnson Jermod McCoy