Fernando Mendoza is finding out quickly that the NFL comes with a steep learning curve. The Las Vegas Raiders’ top pick struggled in his second preseason appearance Thursday night, throwing an interception that Houston returned for a touchdown before the Raiders rallied late for a 22-20 victory over the Texans.
Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner who led Indiana to a national championship, played the first half and completed 8 of 15 passes for 86 yards. The performance came one week after he threw a touchdown pass in his preseason debut against Arizona while playing behind veteran Kirk Cousins.
Thursday night was a much tougher test. On Mendoza’s third pass, his throw was overthrown and intercepted by Houston linebacker Wade Woodaz, who raced 80 yards for a touchdown to give the Texans a 14-0 lead.
Mendoza chased Woodaz down the field, but the Houston defender shoved him aside near the 15-yard line and continued into the end zone.
The mistake was part of a difficult first half for the young quarterback. Mendoza was sacked once and absorbed several other hits while facing Houston’s second-string defense. He played five series but managed to lead the Raiders to only one field goal.
The Raiders have not committed to Mendoza as their starter, and Cousins is widely expected to open the regular season as the team’s quarterback. After the game, however, Raiders coach Kevin O’Connell declined to definitively say that Cousins would start Week 1.
For Mendoza, the preseason is providing valuable experience as he adjusts to the speed and physicality of professional football. Houston also rested many of its starters, but quarterback C.J. Stroud made his first preseason appearance.
Stroud played only one series and helped lead the Texans to a touchdown. He completed 4 of 6 passes for 27 yards, while running back Woody Marks capped the drive with a 20-yard touchdown run to make it 7-0.
Stroud and several members of Houston’s offensive line were among the few Texans starters who saw action. The Texans fell to 0-2 in the preseason, while the Raiders improved to 1-1.
Las Vegas rested most of its key starters as well, including Cousins, star defensive end Maxx Crosby, running back Ashton Jeanty and tight end Brock Bowers.
After Mendoza’s first-half struggles, Aidan O’Connell took over at quarterback in the second half and helped spark the Raiders’ comeback.
Dylan Laube’s 4-yard touchdown run with about five minutes remaining in the third quarter cut Houston’s lead to 20-10.
Former Texans running back Dare Ogunbowale then added another big play for Las Vegas, breaking loose for a 19-yard touchdown run with less than eight minutes remaining.
The Raiders’ attempted extra point failed when kicker Kansei Matsuzawa missed, leaving Houston ahead 20-16.
O’Connell completed the comeback in dramatic fashion. With just 14 seconds remaining, he scored on a 1-yard tush push to put Las Vegas ahead 22-20. Matsuzawa missed the extra point again, but the Raiders held on for the victory.
While the quarterbacks and young players grabbed most of the attention, the kickers also provided some fireworks. Houston’s Ka’imi Fairbairn connected on field goals from 51 and 57 yards in his first preseason action after sitting out last week’s game. Las Vegas kicker Matt Gay answered with a 52-yard field goal in the second quarter.
For the Raiders, the victory was encouraging because of the late comeback. But the biggest storyline remains Mendoza’s development.
The young quarterback has already shown flashes of the talent that made him a Heisman Trophy winner and national champion at Indiana. Thursday, however, offered a reminder that success in college does not automatically translate to the NFL.
Mendoza’s interception, the physical pressure he faced and his inability to consistently move the offense showed there is plenty of work ahead.
With the regular season approaching, the Raiders will be watching closely to see how quickly their prized rookie can turn difficult preseason lessons into progress.
