Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) warms up during organized team activities at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Candice Ward-Imagn Images
The Las Vegas Raiders are currently gearing up for the NFL preseason, which is slated to get underway on Thursday at home against the Arizona Cardinals. Number one overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza is expected to see plenty of playing time in this one as he officially steps onto an NFL field for the first time in his career.
Recently, former NFL quarterback and current ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky stopped by The Pat McAfee Show to break down what he is looking for out of Mendoza in this game.
“I want to see Fernando Mendoza play with ease tonight.. Ease in and out of the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. Ease handling the formations and the motions and the shifts. Ease under center in the operation of maybe some of the play action stuff,” he said per Pat McAfee on X, formerly Twitter. “..If there's a moment of frustration or adversity, does that speed him up, or is he able to play in control the way he did in college?”
While preseason games aren't always a great indicator of future success, Mendoza will still certainly have plenty of attention on him against the Cardinals on Sunday as he officially makes his professional debut.
The Raiders have plenty of high hopes for Mendoza as their franchise cornerstone, although veteran Kirk Cousins will start the year at quarterback for Las Vegas after they signed him in free agency, giving Mendoza a good mentor to learn from.
In any case, the Raiders are set to kick things off against the Cardinals on Thursday at 8:00 pm ET. Their regular season is set to get underway on September 13.