LAS VEGAS -- Kirk Cousins will begin the season as the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback over rookie Fernando Mendoza. Raiders first-year coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday that Cousins will start the season opener in Las Vegas against the Miami Dolphins.

Mendoza will be the first quarterback drafted with the first overall pick to not start in Week 1 since Baker Mayfield in 2018. Kubiak didn't comment on whether there's an expectation for Mendoza to play this year. "[Cousins] played really good football," Kubiak said. "Kirk's had a really good offseason, very [training] camp and he's earned it."

Cousins will be the ninth player to start at quarterback since the Raiders parted ways with Derek Carr near the end of the 2022 season. Kubiak's decision seemed inevitable as Cousins began camp as QB1 and has experience with Kubiak from their time with the Minnesota Vikings. Cousins, 38, completed 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in his second preseason start.

Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, played mostly with the second-team offense and completed 18 of 31 passes for 181 yards, a touchdown, and a pick-six in preseason. Raiders general manager John Spytek said, "[Mendoza's] time is coming, but he's got to earn it every day." The Raiders signed Cousins in April after he was released from the Atlanta Falcons.