Kirk Cousins candid on ceding job to Fernando Mendoza as Raiders coach addresses QB ‘fix’

Major changes could be coming to the Las Vegas Raiders after Sunday’s defeat to the Los Angeles Rams. The 35-21 loss marked the fourth-straight loss for Las Vegas , who started the season 3-0 with a resurgent Kirk Cousins initially setting the tone. Cousins’ 16 touchdown passes lead the league in that category and have put him in exclusive company. The veteran is now tied with Daryle Lamonica and Jeff George in touchdown passes thrown in their first seven games, according to Raiders PR. However, four straight losses have many wondering if the time is now to hand the reigns to No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza , who got his first taste of NFL action in Week 5 against the New England Patriots . On Sunday, Cousins was asked post-game about the possibility of being replaced by the rookie, to which he gave a very honest response. “It’s really the same every day that it was in March or April,” Cousins told reporters. “I mean, nothing changes in the sense that if I’m not the best option then I don’t want to be out there, either. “I want our football team to have the best chance to win games, and if [in] the first OTA if that had become apparent. “I would have been the first one to say, ‘Yeah, you can’t play me.’ “So nothing changes, you know, and the organization will do what they feel is best. “I feel that, you know, Fernando’s done a great job and has a great future ahead, and I try to go out there and play as well as I possibly can help us win and give him a great example to learn from, until he does go out there eventually.” Kubiak delivers eye-opening response to Mendoza question Despite not liking the title , Cousins was brought in to mentor former Indiana Hoosiers product Mendoza before he takes over, presumably next season. With the Raiders in the midst of a four-game losing streak, though, it might not hurt to put Mendoza in and see if he can provide a spark in the Raiders’ hunt to make the playoffs. Head coach Klint Kubiak didn’t exactly rule out the idea of playing Mendoza next week in the Raiders’ matchup against the New York Jets . “ We have to go watch the film,” Kubiak told reporters when asked if the Raiders could turn to Mendoza. “I think at this point, we’ve got to think about everything. How to fix our problems. “ How to fix our issues in the red zone in the third quarter and personnel scheme. We’ve gotta talk about all of it. “ A potential benching would be tough on Cousins, who has performed to expectations so far. However, he’s clearly not the quarterback of the future for the Silver and Black, and given they aren’t looking like a threat for the playoffs right now, some believe now is the time for Mendoza to get valuable experience. Sign up for talkSPORT Stateside , the YouTube channel dedicated to passionate US Sports fans. Will Gavin, Brian T. Smith, former NFL star Efe Obada and a collection of special guests debate the biggest talking points across the NFL, soccer, NBA and more.