Kirk Cousins will remain the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders when they face the New York Jets this week. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed the decision despite the team enduring a four-game losing streak and mounting speculation about a transition to rookie Fernando Mendoza, the reigning No. 1 overall draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner.
Addressing the Quarterback Situation
Kubiak shut down any debate regarding the position during his remarks on Monday, as reported by Raiders.com’s Paul Gutierrez. “Kirk is our starting quarterback. There is no controversy,” Kubiak stated, adding that the veteran is performing at a very high level.
Cousins has put up strong numbers this season, throwing for 1,877 yards and leading the NFL with 16 touchdowns. In the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Rams, the 38-year-old completed 26-of-44 passes for 295 yards and two touchdowns.
That defeat dropped the Raiders’ record to 3-4 following a three-game winning streak to start the year. Kubiak noted after Sunday’s game that the team is evaluating everything to correct their ongoing issues in the red zone, the third quarter, personnel, and scheme.
Looking Ahead to Mendoza
Although a quarterback change is anticipated eventually, Kubiak indicated that the moment has not arrived yet. Cousins understood his tenure as the starter in Las Vegas would be temporary when he signed with the franchise in April. He mentioned on Sunday night that if he believed Mendoza gave the team a better chance to win, he would be the first to advocate for the change.
Cousins also acknowledged that a simple quarterback swap will not resolve all of the team’s current challenges. On Sunday, the defense surrendered nearly 200 rushing yards, and the running game has failed to eclipse 100 yards as a unit since the losing skid began.
Cousins plans to maximize his remaining time in the starting role. “I’m going to try to go out there and play as well as I possibly can, help us win and give [Mendoza] a great example to learn from until he does go out there eventually,” Cousins said.
