Raiders Share Fernando Mendoza Update Before Texans Matchup

Notably, the Las Vegas Raiders kick off Week 2 of NFL preseason action Thursday night against the Houston Texans.

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• On that first series, Cousins went 5-of-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown.
• The two teams already faced off earlier this week in joint practice, where the Raiders' No.

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Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Meanwhile, the two teams already faced off earlier this week in joint practice, where the Raiders' No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, obtained extensive reps with the first-team offense. Now fans will obtain to see how well those further reps have paid off.

Mendoza is due to start Thursday against the Texans, and ESPN's Adam Schefter documented that the team intends to have him on the field for most, if not all, of the first half. Aidan O'Connell is projected to take over in the second half.

In last week's preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza didn't see the field until near the end of the first quarter, with Kirk Cousins getting the start and leading an efficient opening drive. On that first series, Cousins went 5-of-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown. Mendoza then entered and played the remainder of the first quarter and all of the second, finishing 10-of-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown – a 6-yard slant to second-year wideout Jack Bech.

It was a solid debut considering it marked his first live NFL action, but fans only obtained to see him for three drives. Thursday night should look much different, and it'll come against tougher competition. The Texans' defense is stacked with talent, offering Mendoza a valuable measuring stick as he continues adjusting to running with the starters.

Cousins remains locked in as QB1, but if Mendoza continues to perform well and carries that momentum into the regular season, his opportunity could come sooner rather than afterwards.

In short, raiders Share Fernando Mendoza Update Before Texans Matchup is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.