Fernando Mendoza looked ready in garbage time, but Raiders' offense still belongs to Kirk Cousins

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza didn't look like a rookie making his first NFL appearance in Sunday's 45-17 loss at New England, but it also wasn't a genuine game situation.

The Patriots, with victory well in hand in the game's final minutes, mostly backed off the pass rush that hounded Las Vegas starter Kirk Cousins throughout the day.

Regardless, Mendoza completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards. The top pick in this year's draft looked quite comfortable.

“He was prepared,” coach Klint Kubiak said Monday. “He played fast. He got through his progressions quickly. He knew his hot issues. It was a solid start for him.”

Kubiak made it clear that Cousins still tops the depth chart, and the 15-year veteran has done little that would justify a change. The Raiders got off to a 3-0 start and nearly beat Kansas City. His 11 touchdown passes through the first four weeks were matched only by San Francisco's Brock Purdy.

Cousins' play had quieted just about any talk of when Mendoza would take over, but after the blowout loss to the Patriots, that speculation could begin anew, regardless of whether that's fair to Cousins.

Mendoza took advantage of New England backing off its defensive aggression by calmly moving Las Vegas from its 35-yard line to the Patriots 14, picking up three first downs.

Then the Patriots pressured Mendoza, forcing an incomplete pass and a scramble to cause a turnover on downs.

That doesn't mean Mendoza isn't ready to handle a pressure situation.

“That’s why he’s here,” Kubiak said. “We have a lot of confidence in him. Kirk’s the starter, and if Fernando’s called upon, he’ll be ready to go just like he was (Sunday).”

Take away his out-of-character fumble and it was another typical Brock Bowers day. He caught eight passes on 10 targets for 110 yards and a touchdown. His 104 yards receiving per game are easily the best among tight ends. Buffalo's Dalton Kincaid, a Las Vegas native, went into Monday night's game at the Los Angeles Rams ranked second at 67.5.

After the blowout loss, it seems like everything. New England did an especially good job of attacking the Raiders' young secondary, which had played better than expected until Sunday. Drake Maye had his way for the Patriots, completing 26 of 34 passes for 374 yards and four touchdowns. Up the next two weeks? The Bills' Josh Allen and the Rams' Matthew Stafford.

One defensive back who stepped up was second-year cornerback Darien Porter. He replaced rookie Hezekiah Masses during the game and broke up two passes, recovered a fumble and made seven tackles.

“He’s a guy that was starting, lost his job for a week, and is so mentally tough that he came back in and played really good football yesterday and played very competitive,” Kubiak said. “That’s not a surprise. That’s the kind of guy that he is, and he’s just going to continue to get better. Him and Zeke (Masses) will compete for that job.”

Ashton Jeanty continues to struggle to run behind an offensive line that gives him little room to work. But at least Jeanty is getting chances. Rookie Mike Washington Jr. was expected to be a much larger part of the offense after a strong preseason and encouraging play early in the season. But he carried just once for 5 yards at New England.

“I think he just needs more opportunities, and that starts with me, too,” Kubiak said.

DT Tonka Hemingway is in the concussion protocol. Kubiak said he expected WR Jalen Nailor, who was in the protocol last week and did not play, back at practice.

WR Dont’e Thornton Jr. (hamstring) has two weeks before the club must decide whether to activate him off injured reserve, put him on season-ending IR or release or trade him.

“We expect him to keep taking another jump,” Kubiak said. “So he’s got to go compete in practice and show us that he’s ready to go.”

2.99 — The Raiders' average yards per rush. It's their worst average through the first five games in franchise history. Tampa Bay, which averaged 2.96 yards in 2023, is the only other team to average fewer than 3.0 yards through five games.

The Raiders host the Bills on Sunday.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) looks to pass against the New England Patriots during an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak looks on from the sidelines during an NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza (15) runs with the ball as New England Patriots safety Mike Brown (33) defends during the second half of an NFL football game in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor and disability rights advocate RJ Mitte, who brought a lifetime of experience with cerebral palsy to fictional family struggles in an essential role on “Breaking Bad,” died Monday at age 34, authorities and his representatives said.

Cameron County Justice of the Peace Cyndi Hinojosa told The Associated Press she declared Mitte dead at about 1:30 p.m. at what she believed was his home in Brownsville, Texas. She said she was unable to provide a cause, but an autopsy will be performed.

Mitte played Walter White Jr., the son of Bryan Cranston's chemistry teacher-turned-meth dealer Walter White on nearly every episode of the five seasons of the AMC show, which recently ranked as the best of the 21st century in a New York Times poll.

Diagnosed at age 3, Mitte told the AP in 2014 that his disability and the surrounding struggles with physical therapy, family problems and exorbitant medical bills – all key subjects on the show – made him better at his job.

“You develop a different mentality and you develop a different look at how the world sees you and how you see the world,” he said. “You’re able to use that. And I think it’s an asset instead of something that would hinder.”

Mitte was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi.

He landed small guest roles on sitcoms after moving to Los Angeles to act in 2006. Like his character, he was in his mid-teens when he began his work on “Breaking Bad,” starting in 2007. The show ran from 2008 to 2013.

“Mitte brought authenticity to the role and built a platform on disability awareness and inclusion,” the actor's representatives said in a statement announcing his death. The statement said he used “his platform to challenge stereotypes and promote greater representation.”

His later credits included the ABC Family series “Switched at Birth” and the superhero satire series “Guardians of Justice.”

He was also a producer of several independent films.

As an advocate, he served as an ambassador for United Cerebral Palsy and Shriners Children's. He was also president of his own Mitte Foundation supporting philanthropic and community initiatives around disabilities.

FILE - Aaron Paul, from left, Anna Gunn, Bryan Cranston, Betsy Brandt, Jesse Plemons, Laura Fraser and RJ Mitte pose in the press room with the award for outstanding drama series for "Breaking Bad" at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live, Aug. 25, 2014, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - RJ Mitte arrives at the Variety and Women in Film's pre-Emmy celebration on Aug. 23, 2014, at Gracias Madre in West Hollywood, Calif. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - RJ Mitte arrives at the Los Angeles premiere of "El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie" at the Regency Village Theatre on Oct. 7, 2019 in Westwood, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, FILE)

FILE - "Breaking Bad" cast members RJ Mitte, from left, Bryan Cranston, Anna Gunn and Aaron Paul pose at a premiere screening to celebrate the final episodes of the television series at Sony Pictures Studios on July 24, 2013 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

FILE - RJ Mitte poses for a portrait to promote the film, "Time Share", at the Music Lodge during the Sundance Film Festival, Jan. 20, 2018, in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP, File)