LAS VEGAS – In a revealing preseason matchup, Las Vegas rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza faced the formidable San Francisco 49ers defense, which, despite being a mix of reserves, proved to be a tough challenge. The game concluded with a narrow 18-12 victory for the 49ers, showcasing Mendoza’s struggles as he was sacked twice and threw an interception.
Mendoza reflected on the experience, noting, “It’s the NFL, there are monsters on the other side of the ball and you need to get the ball out quick. It teaches you, you need to play on time, and there’s less margin for error. So I think it’s a great experience having that heat and duress because diamonds are built under pressure.” Such insights underline the steep learning curve rookies face in the league.
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In terms of scoring, Eddy Piñeiro was a standout for the 49ers, successfully making all six of his field goal attempts, including impressive long-range kicks of 51 and 54 yards in the closing minutes of the game. On the other side, Las Vegas kicker Matt Gay, who briefly played for San Francisco last season, converted 4 of 5 attempts, missing only a 54-yarder in the third quarter.
Mendoza completed 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards, summarizing his preseason statistics at 25 of 40 for 240 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and four sacks over three games. His performance led to five drives against the 49ers, with two drives ending in field goals, one of which was a missed attempt.
Despite the challenges, Mendoza’s preseason has been a crucial learning experience, especially with veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins expected to start the season. Cousins dominated training camp snaps, leaving Mendoza with limited practice opportunities as the Raiders (1-2) shift their focus to game planning for the season opener.
“(Mendoza) needs another three preseason games, and all those rookies do,” Raiders coach Klint Kubiak remarked. “Now that the season is starting, the practice reps get smaller and that’s just life. But us as coaches, we’ve got to get them ready to play and keep developing.” This sentiment reflects the ongoing commitment to player development in the league.
The coaching strategies observed during this game also highlighted contrasting approaches. Kubiak opted to field most of his starting offense and defense for two series, while San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan chose to rest his starters, relying on backups throughout the game. As the deadline for final roster cuts approaches, both coaches will need to make critical decisions regarding their squads.
“I’m looking forward to figuring out exactly our final team here over these next three days,” Shanahan commented. “We got a lot of tough decisions; they’re not easy ones. I want to see how the practice squad pans out and really what our opening day roster is going to be. I just like when the season starts. Preseason gets a little bit old, and I like when it gets real and it’s going to get real, real fast.”
Cousins managed to direct two drives, both culminating in field goals, completing 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards. Meanwhile, Mike Washington Jr. showcased his potential as he rushed for 49 yards on eight carries, possibly stepping into a starting role with Ashton Jeanty sidelined due to injury. Washington finished the preseason with 168 rushing yards, averaging an impressive 7.3 yards per carry.
On the other side, 49ers backup quarterback Mac Jones, along with a largely second-team offense, struggled against the Raiders’ starting defense, managing only one first down and 20 yards on two drives. Jones ended the game with a mere 1 of 5 passing for 7 yards, highlighting the challenges faced by backup players in high-pressure scenarios.
The Raiders continued to rely on Mendoza in the third period, giving him the starting offense minus rookie Trey Zuhn III, who stepped in for Tyler Linderbaum at center. Unfortunately, Mendoza’s second play resulted in a high throw to Jalen Nailor, leading to an interception caught by San Francisco linebacker Tatum Bethune.
Injury report:
49ers: Cornerback Ephesians Prysock (shoulder) and tight end Brayden Willis (concussion) sustained injuries during the game. Linebacker Jalen Graham was evaluated for a concussion but was later cleared.
Raiders: Defensive end Keyron Crawford suffered an ankle injury late in the third quarter.
Up next:
49ers: Open the regular season on September 10 against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia.
Raiders: Kick off their season on September 13 against the Miami Dolphins at home.
