During Thursday night’s preseason matchup between the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans, rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza faced an early setback. With Kirk Cousins sidelined for the evening, Mendoza took the starting role and initially led promising offensive drives, including a 22-yard completion to receiver Jalen Nailor and a 33-yard run by running back Mike Washington Jr. that advanced the ball deep into Houston territory.
The momentum shifted dramatically on a play-action pass when Mendoza attempted a checkdown throw over the middle. Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz read the play perfectly, stepping in front of the intended receiver to secure an interception. Woodaz then raced 80 yards into the end zone for a touchdown, giving Houston a commanding 14-0 lead early in the contest.
In an attempt to limit the damage, Mendoza pursued Woodaz downfield but was unable to prevent the score. The turnover marked another challenging moment for the No. 1 overall pick, who had previously expressed disappointment with his preseason debut the week prior. The Heisman Trophy winner’s performance against Houston will likely prompt another critical self-assessment as he continues his development in the professional ranks.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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