The Las Vegas Raiders finished their preseason Thursday night with an 18-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. Two weeks remain before the regular season begins. The team still does not have a named starting quarterback.
Head coach Klint Kubiak declined to make the call after the game. He told reporters he wanted to review the tape before announcing a decision, according to ESPN. "I still don't think we need to name anybody," Kubiak said. "We have a lot to talk about at a lot of positions, so we want to watch the film and talk about everything as a staff."
The competition has come down to veteran Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft. Kubiak spent most of the offseason signaling a preference for the veteran, but Mendoza's performances in the first two preseason games gave some observers reason to believe the rookie might be ahead of schedule.
Thursday changed the picture. Mendoza struggled in the finale while Cousins led the offense on two scoring drives. Statistically, Cousins now holds the edge heading into the regular season.
Cousins was unbothered by the lack of an official announcement. "Naming something one day could change the next," he said. "You just go about your business each day, methodically, and let the chips fall where they may."
A decision is expected soon. The Raiders open the regular season in just over two weeks, and sorting out the starting quarterback will shape how the team prepares at every other position.
