HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — When Fernando Mendoza was working his way toward becoming the Raiders’ starting quarterback, Kirk Cousins mentored the rookie rather than shunning him.
asserted
Cousins → work → him
That was despite knowing Mendoza would eventually replace Cousins, which occurred Tuesday when the 15-year veteran was traded to Minnesota.
asserted
veteran → know → Minnesota
Mendoza hopes to rely on what he learned from Cousins when he makes his first start for Las Vegas on Sunday against visiting Seattle.
asserted
he → hop → Seattle
“It would have been really easy for Kirk, being a veteran quarterback and having already proved everything, to be a little bit more dismissive,” Mendoza said Wednesday.
asserted
Mendoza → prove → everything
“But he had me with open arms and has taught me so many things.
asserted
he → have → things
Whether it’s film study, how to operate as a starting quarterback, all the different multifaceted approaches that have made him so successful throughout his career, he has shared with no restrictions or no constraints.
asserted
he → ’ → restrictions
This is the moment the organization knew was coming at some point and Raiders fans have anticipated since it became clear the club would select Mendoza with the top pick in this year’s draft.
asserted
club → know → draft
Mendoza was coming off a season in which he captured the Heisman Trophy and led former basketball powerhouse Indiana to its first national championship in football.
asserted
he → come → football
Secondary-market ticket prices for Sunday’s game have more than doubled at Vivid Seats since news broke of the trade and Mendoza’s elevation.
asserted
news → double → trade
The lowest-priced ticket on the resale app went from $176 to $365.
asserted
ticket → price → 365
At TickPick, another resale site, the cheapest ticket went from $282 to $395.
asserted
ticket → go → 395
Mendoza had his chance to run the first-team offense Wednesday for the first time since he was promoted.
asserted
he → have → time
The Raiders went through a walk-through rather than a full practice, but wide receiver Tre Tucker said Mendoza impressed even in that setting.
asserted
Mendoza → go → setting
“We’ve been seeing it all year,” Tucker said.
asserted
Tucker → see → it
“He’s been taking reps with us, he’s been doing everything.
asserted
he → take → everything
You see a throw in practice and you’re like, ‘Wow.’
asserted
you → see → practice
So for that to be out there this Sunday is going to be fun.”
asserted
be → go → ?
Mendoza will face a tough opponent in his debut start.
asserted
Mendoza → face → start
The defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks lead the league in total defense, allowing 244.2 yards per game.
asserted
Seahawks → defend → game
Seattle is tied for fourth with Pittsburgh in scoring defense at 18.0 points allowed.
asserted
Seattle → tie → points
But the Seahawks enter the game with scant video of Mendoza to study.
asserted
Seahawks → enter → Mendoza
He has made just one appearance, completing 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards in garbage time of a blowout loss to New England.
asserted
He → make → England
“We are going to watch his plays and lean on our information we had coming out of the draft process and put our best foot forward,” Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald said.
asserted
Macdonald → go → foot
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak, who was the Seahawks’ offensive coordinator last season, said the entire playbook will be at Mendoza’s disposal.
asserted
playbook → say → disposal
“We gathered information on what every player can handle going back to April, and we have an awareness of his situation and him being in his first game,” Kubiak said.
asserted
Kubiak → gather → game
“However, we’re not peeling back anything, and we’re going to go do what the whole team does best.”
asserted
team → peel → what
Most of what Mendoza has done this season has occurred behind the scenes in practice and with video and playbook study.
asserted
Mendoza → do → study
Coaches and teammates have raved about his commitment to getting better, and they said Mendoza has shined in practice in recent weeks.
asserted
Mendoza → rave → weeks
Cousins played so well — his 20 touchdown passes are second only to Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow’s 23 — that Kubiak wasn’t in a hurry to take the 38-year-old off the field, even though the move was inevitable.
asserted
move → play → field
That happened Tuesday, when the QB-needy Vikings — coming off an embarrassing offensive performance Monday night in a 23-6 loss to Buffalo — sent a 2027 third-round draft pick to the Raiders for Cousins.
asserted
Vikings → happen → Cousins
The deal came together so quickly that Mendoza didn’t have a chance to tell his family before the news broke.
asserted
news → come → family
“All the guys in the locker room love Kirk,” tight end Brock Bowers said.
asserted
Bowers → love → Kirk
“He was a great locker room guy to have around, and I know all the media love him, too.
asserted
media → have → him
It was definitely a tough loss for, I guess, the vibe in the locker room and the morale, but we’re excited to see what Fernando can do.
asserted
Fernando → guess → what
We all have trust and faith in him.
asserted
We → have → him
We see what he’s been doing in camp, so I’m excited to see what he does here.”
asserted
he → see → what
The Aporia
