Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza throws pick-six in Raiders’ second preseason game

Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza encountered a difficult start to his second NFL preseason game against the Houston Texans, throwing an interception on his first drive. The pass, intended for running back Mike Washington Jr., was picked off by Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz, who returned it 80 yards for a touchdown. The play established a 14-0 lead for Houston early in the contest.

According to Yahoo Sports, Mendoza held the ball after a play-action fake before checking down to Washington Jr. after his initial reads were not available. The source suggests that Washington may have moved off the spot Mendoza expected him to be, causing the pass to be thrown behind the receiver. Woodaz, a fourth-round rookie for the Texans, stepped in to intercept the ball and outran Mendoza to the end zone.

The interception occurred after Mendoza’s first pass of the game was mistimed and sailed high to Jalen Nailor. His second pass, however, was a 22-yard completion to Nailor, which was noted as a positive moment for the Raiders’ coaching staff. Following the interception, Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby approached Mendoza on the sideline to offer encouragement, as reported by ESPN.

Mendoza had delivered a strong performance in his preseason debut the previous week, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. Despite this, the interception serves as a reminder of the difficulty of the NFL. The Raiders have not faced the Texans’ starting defence during this game, with Mendoza starting because veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins participated in joint practices this week.

Cousins, whom the Raiders prefer to start the regular season, completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown in his limited action last week. This performance solidified his standing on the depth chart. While the pick-six is a setback, it is unlikely to ruin Mendoza’s chances of playing soon in the season, given the Raiders’ stated intention to slow-play his first official start.

The game is a preseason contest that does not count towards the official regular-season record. The incident highlights the learning curve for Mendoza, who is the first overall pick of the NFL Draft. The Raiders continue to manage his workload as they prepare for the upcoming season.