October 26, 2026 - 12:52 pm

The Fernando Mendoza era is still on pause.

Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak had said after a fourth consecutive loss Sunday that all options were on the table to turn around the team’s fortunes.

That does not yet include going with the No. 1 overall pick as the starting quarterback, Kubiak announced Monday.

Mendoza, who won a national championship and Heisman Trophy at Indiana last season, will not replace Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback when the Raiders play the New York Jets on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

“Kirk is our starting quarterback,” Kubiak said. “There is no controversy.”

Cousins, who leads the NFL with 16 passing touchdowns, will remain the starter after starting the season 3-4.

Kubiak said the team’s main objective right now remains winning games.

“He’s playing at a very high level, and he’s got to continue to do that for us to win,” Kubiak said of Cousins. “And we’ve got to keep helping all the areas around him.…