Fernando Mendoza shows more rookie growing pains in Raiders’ second preseason outing, eyes early corrections

The Las Vegas Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, is getting a second dose of preseason education, and it came with the kind of rookie growing pains that rarely disappear after the opening game. In his most recent outing, Mendoza was expected to build on the baseline he laid down earlier in camp, but FOX Sports reported that his performance included “a few more” struggles than his first appearance.

Preseason games are built for reps, but they also expose where development still lags. For a rookie quarterback, that typically shows up in timing and processing rather than effort. The Raiders, like every team, use these weeks to evaluate whether a young report-caller can recognize coverages faster, adjust protection plans smoothly, and sustain rhythm through live-game tempo.

According to FOX Sports, Mendoza’s learning process was the storyline against the Texans. That matters because the Raiders are in the middle of transforming expectations into repeatable habits, particularly when it comes to decision-making under pressure. “Learning from struggles” is not a headline many fans want, but it is often the most accurate description of what coaches are looking for at this stage.

The key distinction with a second preseason showing is that it is not simply another first impression. By the time a rookie returns for a second game, he should have more familiarity with the weekly rhythm: how the play calling differs when third units are on the field, how defenses adjust snap-by-snap, and how timing breaks down when the margin tightens.

There is also a broader roster and game-plan context. Preseason evaluation is influenced by who is available, who is rotating, and what specific packages each side wants to see. Even so, quarterbacks are assessed on their ability to keep the offense moving when execution becomes messier than it looks on a practice field.

For Mendoza, the reported takeaway is straightforward. The struggles are part of the adjustment period, and the Raiders will likely treat the Texans game as another checkpoint rather than a final verdict. If he can show cleaner reads, steadier tempo management, and fewer repeat errors in the next opportunity, the preseason work will start to look like coherent progress.

What to watch next is whether the corrections show up quickly. In particular, look for improvements in how Mendoza responds after an initial miscue, how often he forces throws versus escaping pressure, and whether his accuracy and timing become more consistent as the Raiders continue to fine-tune their early-season foundations.