Raiders' Kubiak Keeps Cousins as Starter After 4 Straight Losses, Mendoza Stays on Bench

2.3 · 5d ago · US

The Facts

  • Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said Monday that Kirk Cousins will remain the starting quarterback and is 'playing at a very high level'. Fox News only
  • Las Vegas lost 35-21 to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, Oct. 25, 2026, its fourth straight defeat after a 3-0 start. Fox News only
  • Cousins will start Sunday against the 2-5 New York Jets on the road. Fox News only
  • Cousins leads the NFL with 16 passing touchdowns, is third in passing yards (1,877), has a 62.6% completion rate, five interceptions and a 97.4 passer rating through seven games. Fox News only
  • No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has not played this season; Kubiak said he 'is going to play at some point. It's not going to be this week.' Fox News only
Dive deeper · 1 more factShow less
  • Kubiak said 'everything' would be evaluated after another loss. Fox News only

Context

Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Monday he is sticking with quarterback Kirk Cousins despite a four-game losing streak that followed a 3-0 start, the team's best opening since 2021.

Rookie Fernando Mendoza, the top pick in the 2026 draft, has yet to play. Kubiak said the plan is to keep developing him behind Cousins.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 1.

3 News Editor This is a sports team depth-chart decision about one starting quarterback for a single upcoming game, affecting a limited audience, with mostly coach statements rather than a major concrete event.
2 Business Analyst This is a sports coaching decision about a starting quarterback with no broad economic impact, and it is largely official comment and roster plans rather than a major concrete event.
2 Informed Citizen This is a coach's statement that he will keep the current starting quarterback for one more game, a routine sports-roster decision with limited impact beyond fans of one team.

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