In the wake of the Las Vegas Raiders' fourth consecutive defeat, a 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, head coach Klint Kubiak initially considered a quarterback change. However, he quickly reaffirmed that Kirk Cousins will remain the starter as the team seeks to improve its 3-4 record this season.

Kubiak emphasized that Cousins provides the best chance for success, particularly with a critical matchup against the New York Jets on the horizon. "Kirk is our starting quarterback. There is no controversy there. He is playing at a very high level," Kubiak stated, underlining the need for continued support around Cousins.

Despite the losing streak, Cousins has performed admirably, ranking third in the league with 1,877 passing yards and being recognized as a top-12 quarterback by passer rating. His adaptation to Kubiak's system has been notable, yet the team must eventually assess Fernando Mendoza, their No. 1 overall pick from April.

Kubiak acknowledged Mendoza will see playing time this season, though he clarified that it would not happen in Week 8. "We have a plan... Kirk's playing really well. We’re in the hunt," he noted, suggesting a potential quarterback switch could occur during the bye week in Week 13. This would allow Mendoza to gain valuable experience toward the end of the season if the Raiders fall out of playoff contention.

The upcoming schedule for the Raiders includes:

• Week 8: at New York Jets
• Week 9: at San Francisco 49ers
• Week 10: vs. Seattle Seahawks
• Week 11: at Denver Broncos
• Week 12: at Cleveland Browns
• Week 13: BYE
• Week 14: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

If the transition to Mendoza occurs during the bye, he would benefit from an extra week of practice before a favorable debut against the winless Chargers.