Raiders announce plans for Fernando Mendoza in NFL preseason Week 2

The Las Vegas Raiders are giving Fernando Mendoza another significant opportunity to showcase what he can do in NFL preseason action.

The No. 1 overall pick is expected to play roughly the first half Thursday night against the Houston Texans before Aidan O’Connell takes over for the second half, according to Adam Schefter.

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Mendoza getting extended lookAug 13, 2026; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) warms up before a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Brytus-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters)

Mendoza’s workload represents a major increase from his preseason debut against the Arizona Cardinals. In that game, the rookie led four drives and completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, providing plenty of reasons for Raiders fans to be excited about his future.

Now, he’ll have considerably more time to operate against Houston.

The Raiders also gave Mendoza valuable first-team reps during their joint practice with the Texans this week. The results were mixed, but the experience should be beneficial as he continues adjusting to the speed and complexity of the NFL.

This will be another important evaluation for the rookie, particularly with the Raiders trying to determine how quickly they can bring him along.

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O’Connell gets second-half opportunity

Once Mendoza’s night is finished, Aidan O’Connell is expected to take over at quarterback for the second half.

That will give O’Connell an important opportunity of his own. The veteran quarterback is competing for a roster spot and could potentially become an option behind Kirk Cousins depending on how the quarterback battle develops. O’Connell struggled in the preseason opener, completing just 4 of 13 passes, so a strong showing against Houston would be valuable.

For Mendoza, however, the spotlight will be much brighter.

The Raiders aren’t simply giving their first overall pick a few preseason snaps. They’re putting him in for an extended stretch against an NFL defense after already giving him first-team reps in practice.

After an encouraging debut, Mendoza has another major opportunity to show the Raiders why they made him the No. 1 pick.

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