HENDERSON, Nev. -- Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is expected to get plenty of experience in Thursday's preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, coach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday.
"I look forward to seeing him out there with his teammates. [There] are a lot of guys that we need to evaluate, but he will get plenty of reps," Kubiak said.
Kubiak mentioned that the starters will play and that Mendoza could get some snaps with a few members of the first-team offensive line. But he didn't want to go into detail on the team's plan for the number of snaps and drives players will participate in.
Mendoza, the No. 1 pick in April's NFL draft, has practiced mostly with the second team, while veteran Kirk Cousins has played with the first team after being named the starting quarterback at the start of training camp.
Mendoza practiced with the starters for the first time this past Saturday after Cousins was held out of practice for his scuffle with defensive Maxx Crosby. Kubiak said the team is still evaluating whether Crosby, who had offseason knee surgery, will play against the Cardinals.
Kubiak said Mendoza has had an impressive training camp in terms of his preparation and being able to translate it onto the practice field. He mentioned that Mendoza has done a good job of making adjustments and not making the same mistakes twice.
Now, Kubiak wants to see Mendoza translate that into an actual game.
"That will be a whole other animal," Kubiak said.
