Fernando Mendoza, the first overall NFL draft pick and a key hope for the Las Vegas Raiders, is experiencing the challenges of being a rookie. During a preseason game against the Houston Texans, Mendoza threw an interception early in the game. Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz intercepted the pass and returned it 80 yards for a touchdown.
Mendoza’s performance compared unfavorably to his debut, where he showed promise against the Arizona Cardinals by completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards with no interceptions. This time, he completed 8 of 15 passes with a passer rating of 42.6, partly due to the interception.
On the sideline, Mendoza appeared downcast, but his teammates, including veteran Maxx Crosby, offered support. “He’s a rookie,” Crosby said in an interview with ESPN’s Laura Rutledge. “You’ve got to go through some ups and downs. It’s how you respond.”
Maxx Crosby, a seasoned player for the Raiders, understands the ebbs and flows of football. On January 15, 2022, Crosby was celebrating against the Cincinnati Bengals during the AFC Wild Card Playoff game.
Despite the tough game, Mendoza showed resilience by completing six consecutive throws after the interception. However, he then missed two more, with one being a dropped pass. ESPN analyst Troy Aikman noted that Mendoza is learning the speed and tight coverage of the NFL compared to college.
Armando Salguero, OutKick’s Senior NFL Writer, keeps a close eye on developments like these while analyzing the performance of rookies like Mendoza in the NFL.
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