Kirk Cousins officially anointed Raiders' starting quarterback

Las Vegas Raiders backmost Kirk Cousins (8) passes against San Francisco 49ers during the archetypal fractional of an NFL preseason crippled astatine Allegiant Stadium Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. Photo by: Steve Marcus / Las Vegas Sun

Klint Kubiak confirmed the Raiders’ worst-kept concealed Wednesday astatine squad headquarters: Kirk Cousins volition spell into the play arsenic the starting quarterback.

Cousins caused immoderate momentary interest earlier successful the greeting erstwhile helium was not connected the tract for the archetypal post-training campy practice, but the Raiders' manager said, “that was by plan for a remainder day, a vet day.”

All the absorption is present connected getting Cousins arsenic prepared arsenic imaginable for the Raiders’ Week 1 crippled against the Miami Dolphins connected Sept. 13 astatine Allegiant Stadium.

“He played truly bully football,” Kubiak said connected wherefore Cousins got the starting nod. “I’m truly blessed with each 3 of our quarterbacks. Kirk’s had a precise bully offseason, truly bully campy and he’s earned it.”

Kubiak did not denote whether No. 1 wide prime Fernando Mendoza oregon longtime Raider Aidan O’Connell would service arsenic Cousins’ backup, but the erstwhile has taken astir each the second-team snaps precocious successful signifier and the preseason.

Cousins volition presumably request to nutrient connected a adjacent play ground to clasp onto the occupation with the temptation of inserting Mendoza into the lineup high.  

Kubiak said passim the offseason that helium preferred a rookie sitting down a veteran, but somewhat changed his tune successful caller weeks and said helium didn’t privation Cousins to feel, “comfortable.”

But Mendoza didn’t instrumentality vantage of the imaginable opening, struggling with turnovers and dealing with the walk unreserved down the agelong of grooming campy and the preseason.

Kubiak has inactive wide praised Mendoza and excused galore of his mistakes but, by not naming him the starter, helium lived up to the committedness helium made to Cousins upon signing him.

Kubiak told Cousins the amended backmost done grooming campy would commencement the season. Cousins has been the amended backmost done grooming camp.

“I deliberation the astir important happening for the backmost country oregon immoderate different presumption is to physique contention wrong the room,” Kubiak said. “I deliberation that makes players amended faster than coaching, erstwhile they person a feline they tin look up to and spot however something’s done. That’s going to accelerate their growth.”