It may need solely been a preseason sport, however Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza had an opportunity to start out his first NFL sport on Thursday night time in opposition to the Houston Texans.
It didn’t take lengthy for the No. 1 total decide to have an actual welcome-to-the-NFL second.
Fernando Mendoza throws pick-six on opening drive in opposition to Texans
After finishing his second cross of the sport for 22 yards to Jalen Nailor, Mendoza’s subsequent cross was picked off by Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz and returned 80 yards for a landing.
Mendoza tried to chase Woodaz down, however he was unable to catch him and make the sort out.
Regardless that he was the No. 1 total decide and is coming off one of many best single seasons in current faculty soccer historical past, Mendoza continues to be a rookie, and there are going to be lots of rising pains for him this season when he finally sees the sector. Pretty much as good because the Huge Ten is, the expertise hole between that and the NFL is gigantic. And that’s nonetheless true in a preseason sport the place many of the Texans defensive starters will not be on the sector.
All of that could be a massive motive why the Raiders have veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins on the roster and are anticipated to start out him in Week 1 of the common season.
The Raiders want Mendoza to be nice for the following 10-15 years, not simply this season. His improvement is an important factor, and typically that comes from sitting and watching. And from making errors.
Mendoza performed a major quantity of the Raiders’ preseason opener in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals per week in the past, finishing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards, one landing and no interceptions.
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