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Mendoza feels NFL jump as Cousins steadies Raiders

Mendoza NFL jump became clear after the Raiders’ 18-12 preseason loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Fernando Mendoza showed toughness but remained uneven, while Kirk Cousins looked efficient and Matt Gay strengthened his kicking case.

by
Mark Hebert
August 28, 2026

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza reacts after a preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza reacts after the preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium. Mendoza said the jump from college to the NFL is significant after an uneven night in the Raiders’ 18-12 loss. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Fernando Mendoza walked out of his first NFL preseason understanding exactly how much harder the next step will be.

“The NFL is really tough,” Mendoza said after the Raiders’ 18-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. “There is a big jump going from college to the NFL.”

Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Las Vegas Aces, Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.

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