LAS VEGAS -- Kirk Cousins will begin the season as the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback over rookie Fernando Mendoza.
Raiders first-year coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday that Cousins will start the season opener in Las Vegas against the Miami Dolphins.
Mendoza will be the first quarterback drafted with the first overall pick to not start in Week 1 since Baker Mayfield in 2018. Playing for the Cleveland Browns at the time, Mayfield didn't start until Week 4 after Tyrod Taylor started the first three games that season.
Kubiak didn't comment on whether there's an expectation for Mendoza to play this year.
"[Cousins] played really good football," Kubiak said. "I'm happy with all three of our quarterbacks. Kirk's had a really good offseason, very [training] camp and he's earned it."
Cousins will be the ninth player to start at quarterback since the Raiders parted ways with Derek Carr near the end of the 2022 season. Cousins and Kubiak will be the franchise's fourth different head coach-quarterback combination in four years.