Fernando Mendoza's NFL debut tops 3 must-watch preseason games
Fernando Mendoza's NFL debut lands Thursday, August 13, when the Las Vegas Raiders host the Arizona Cardinals in Week 1 of the 2026 preseason at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT. Touchdown Wire ranks that game among three must-watch August exhibitions as the league waits to see how the No. 1 pick and Kirk Cousins split snaps.
Key Takeaways
- Mendoza's first NFL action is expected Aug. 13 when the Raiders host the Cardinals (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT).
- Touchdown Wire also flags Cowboys-Seahawks (Aug. 15) and Eagles-Patriots (Aug. 22) as 2026 preseason must-sees.
- Brady is mentoring Mendoza using lessons from Peyton Manning's No. 1-pick path, per The Athletic.
- Yahoo Sports notes Brady's Raiders ownership gives Mendoza a rare in-house advantage.
- Cousins is expected to start early while Mendoza develops behind a veteran, per The Athletic.
When is Fernando Mendoza's NFL debut?
According to Touchdown Wire, the Raiders' first preseason game is Thursday, August 13, at 8:00 p.m. ET and 5:00 p.m. PT against the Arizona Cardinals. It marks Week 1 of the NFL preseason schedule.
All eyes will be on the quarterback room in Las Vegas. Touchdown Wire notes this is the first time either Mendoza or Cousins will suit up for the Raiders in a game setting. Open questions include who starts, how many snaps each quarterback gets, and who looks sharper in live action.
Which other 2026 preseason games should you watch?
Touchdown Wire highlights two more August exhibitions worth circling on your calendar. For more live-sports scheduling tips, see our Streaming & TV Alerts hub.
Saturday, August 15 (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT): Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks. This offers an early look at the defending Super Bowl champions, who must replace former offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak—now the Raiders' head coach. Dallas brings an explosive offense that could create preseason fireworks.
Saturday, August 22 (7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT): Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots. Touchdown Wire calls this an early sneak peek between two talented rosters. A.J. Brown could face his former team, and Philadelphia gets a test against New England with new coordinators in place.
Why is Fernando Mendoza under so much pressure before kickoff?
The Athletic reports that Raiders minority owner Tom Brady was a driving force in selecting Mendoza first in April's NFL Draft. Brady told the "Stick To Football" podcast that Manning faced "a tremendous amount of expectation" as the 1998 No. 1 pick—and he believes Mendoza carries that same weight in Las Vegas.
Brady cautioned that draft status alone does not guarantee success. "Now you're just a member of the team," he said on the podcast, per The Athletic. "Now you have to develop him." He added that fans often assume a new star is instantly ready, but "there's a lot of development that still needs to happen."
How does Tom Brady give Mendoza a Raiders advantage?
Yahoo Sports argues the Raiders possess a unique organizational edge: direct access to Brady as a minority owner and mentor. Mendoza told the Raiders' media day that Brady urged him to be "the most competitive," lead by example, and earn teammates' respect before leading effectively.
The Athletic notes Mendoza likely will not face Manning's full rookie-year burden. Las Vegas appears set to start Cousins early while letting Mendoza develop slowly. Even so, Brady is leaning on Manning's comeback story—after a rocky rookie season with 28 interceptions—to frame the patience and drive Mendoza will need once he hits the field in August.