Raiders drop preseason opener to Cardinals as Fernando Mendoza debuts with TD

Maxx Crosby had a premium vantage constituent Thursday for Fernando Mendoza’s preseason debut for the Las Vegas Raiders astatine Allegiant Stadium.

Standing connected their sideline.

Crosby donned the metallic and achromatic but didn’t play against the Arizona Cardinals arsenic Mendoza quarterbacked the bulk of a 27-14 nonaccomplishment successful the preseason opener. The Raiders didn’t unit an incomplete walk oregon grounds a sack successful the archetypal 2 quarters — committing 7 of their 8 infractions for 75 yards.

Kirk Cousins started astatine quarterback and led a 10-play, 68-yard scoring thrust that helium capped with a 13-yard scoring walk to choky extremity Michael Mayer. Mendoza relieved Cousins (5-of-6 passing for 50 yards and the touchdown) connected the pursuing thrust and sandwiched ineffective drives astir a scoring thrust that helium ended with a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jach Bech.

Mendoza finished 10 of 16 for 97 yards and the scoring onslaught connected 4 possessions — to spell with 6 rushing yards connected 2 carries and and a sack.

Aidan O’Connell replaced Mendoza astatine backmost with 12:33 to play.

Rookie moving backmost Mike Washington Jr. keyed Mendoza’s touchdown thrust with a 53-yard tally en way to 63 rushing yards. Bech finished with 3 receptions for 25 yards and the people from Mendoza, who completed 2 passes for 26 yards to rookie wide receiver Malik Benson.

Opposing a defence devoid of Crosby’s pressure, Cardinals quarterbacks Jacoby Brissett and Garner Minshew went 15 of 15 with 3 first-half touchdowns. Brissett (5-of-5 passing for 44 yards and a touchdown) had a 7-yard first-quarter touchdown to wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. Minshew (14-of-16 passing for 101 yards and 2 touchdowns) added second-quarter scores to wideouts Simi Fehoko (10 yards) and Jalen Brooks (6 yards).

Raiders antiaircraft ends Patrick Johnson and Cian Sloane had second-half sacks of Minshew and Kedon Slovis. O’Connell completed 4 of 13 passes for 85 yards.

The preseason continues for Las Vegas adjacent Thursday against the Houston Texans astatine NRG Stadium.

Contact Sam Gordon astatine sgordon@eviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon connected X.