That's the only way to view this after the coach on Thursday night (actually Friday morning) declined to say what everyone assumes — that Kirk Cousins is the Las Vegas starter to open the season against the Miami Dolphins on Sept.13."You know, we got another week playing," Kubiak told reporters after his team's preseason game against the Houston Texans.
"I don't want anyone to be comfortable in their job."It should always be that way from all positions.So, you know, we'll just keep going forward."Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins warms up during practice at the team's NFL training camp Tuesday, Aug.
4, 2026, in Henderson, Nev.(AP Photo/John Locher)FERNANDO MENDOZA THROWS PICK SIX IN SECOND NFL GAMEThe Raiders are heading toward their preseason finale next Thursday without naming a starting quarterback for the regular season.
Kubiak apparently wants to keep Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza guessing about their status on the depth chart.HOW KIRK COUSINS AND FERNANDO MENDOZA ARE BUILDING 'GREAT' RELATIONSHIP THROUGH RAIDERS WORK, FAITH AND MOREAnd the entire rest of the Earth is thinking, "Really, coach?"Just last week, Kubiak made it seem like Cousins was the leader in the proverbial clubhouse for the starting job."I think he's had a solid training camp and it's his job to lose," Kubiak said of Cousins.Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws a pass during a preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nev., on Aug.13, 2026.
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)RAIDERS ROOKIE FERNANDO MENDOZA THANKS GOD FOR AN NFL DEBUT THAT COMPARES FAVORABLY TO 'MR BRADY'And one week later, when all Cousins did was watch from the sideline while Mendoza started and then gave way to third-stringer Aidan O'Connell in the second half, Kubiak's changing course?What exactly did Cousins do to lose the job while not playing? Did he eat too much in the pregame meal?Kubiak himself said Cousins "did some good things" against the Tex...