Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak is singing the praises of rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza following his first month with the team. During Wednesday's OTA practice in Henderson, Kubiak noted that the No. 1 overall pick has lived up to his draft billing. Mendoza's work ethic and ability to process complex information quickly have already caught the attention of the coaching staff.

While Mendoza shows promise, veteran Kirk Cousins remains the presumed starter heading into the season. Cousins brings significant experience to the offense, having worked under Kubiak during his tenure with the Minnesota Vikings. The Raiders are currently rotating three quarterbacks, including Aidan O'Connell, to evaluate depth before the official competition begins during the upcoming training camp sessions.

Defensive leader Maxx Crosby also appeared at practice, though he remains sidelined while recovering from offseason knee surgery. Crosby participated in stretching but will not take part in OTAs or mandatory minicamps. The team expects their star defensive end to return to full activity by training camp, potentially arriving ahead of his original medical schedule.