VEGAS SPORTS REPORT: Tom Brady’s Influence Helps Push Raiders to Name Kirk Cousins Starting QB

Raiders minority owner Tom Brady played a major role in shaping Las Vegas’ starting lineup on the eve of the new season, according to head coach Klint Kubiak, who named Kirk Cousins as starting quarterback on Sept. 2.

“We lean on him for a lot of things,” said Kubiak. “I talk to him multiple times per week, and he’s been extremely helpful for roster building, schematics, and team building. You name it—just an extremely impressive resource.”

The decision to go with Cousins over No. 1 draft pick Fernando Mendoza wasn’t a surprise, since the Raiders signed the 15-year veteran as a free agent specifically to mentor Mendoza.

The Raiders open the National Football League (NFL) season on Sept. 13 at home against the Miami Dolphins.

Over his career with four different teams, including the Raiders, Cousins has thrown for 44,700 passing yards and 298 touchdowns with a 96.8 quarterback rating—a mark generally considered above league average, but short of elite.

“He just played really good football,” said Kubiak. “I’m really happy with all three of our quarterbacks; Aidan O’Connell sits third on the team’s depth chart behind Mendoza. Kirk’s had a really good off-season and a very good camp, and he’s earned it.”

Cousins Earns Starting Job

For Mendoza, the priority is to keep developing and learning by taking first-team snaps in practice, which he did on Wednesday (Sept. 2) after coaches gave Cousins a day off.

“There’s early work, late work, more meetings, and plenty of time on the field between drills with coach Sullivan (Mike Sullivan, quarterbacks coach) and coach Janocko (Andrew Janocko, offensive coordinator),” said Kubiak. “We’re just trying to find every edge we can to continue to make him and his teammates better.”

Mendoza was on the field for all three of the Raiders’ preseason games. Overall, he went 15-for-29 for 143 passing yards, two interceptions, zero touchdowns, and a 37.0 passer rating.

Mendoza Continues His Development

As Kubiak added, though, having a No. 1 draft pick in camp taking first-team snaps in practice and playing in preseason games pushed Cousins and forced him to elevate his play.

The other significant piece of news to come out of Raiders camp on Wednesday (Sept. 2) was Kubiak telling reporters that running back Ashton Jeanty is “on the mend” following an ankle injury, and that he is optimistic Jeanty will play against Miami.

Rebels Seek Hawaii Rebound

UNLV is looking to even its record this weekend in a Mountain West conference game against Hawaii after opening its NCAA college football season with a 27-21 loss to Memphis on Aug. 29.

UNLV plays at Hawaii this Saturday (Sept. 5) at 10:10 p.m. EST.

The Rebels entered Dan Mullen’s second season with expectations of contending for the Mountain West title, but they surrendered 13 unanswered fourth-quarter points and converted only 3 of 15 third downs.

New quarterback Jackson Arnold was sacked six times. Still, the Auburn transfer was one of the team’s bright spots, throwing for 291 yards and two touchdowns while adding 54 rushing yards and another score.

UNLV now faces a 0-1 Hawaii team in an important early test of whether the Rebels can correct their pass-protection, rushing, and red-zone issues.

Aces Absorb Major Injury

The Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) is currently in its World Cup break, which runs through Sept. 16.

The Las Vegas Aces return to action on Sept. 17 when they visit the Seattle Storm.

The break gives coaches a good opportunity to assess a team that sits third overall in the league at 27-13, having clinched a playoff berth with four games remaining.

However, starting forward NaLyssa Smith is out for the season. Smith, who was averaging 11.7 points and 6.4 rebounds while leading the WNBA in field goal percentage (63.8%), suffered a left leg injury against Toronto.

The Aces signed 6-foot-7 center Kalani Brown shortly after Smith’s diagnosis, giving the team more size and another interior option heading into the playoffs.

A’ja Wilson was named Western Conference Player of the Month for August after averaging 25 points and 8.8 rebounds over 11 games, leading Las Vegas on a three-game winning streak before the break began on Aug. 31.