# Will Kirk Cousins start for the Raiders in 2026?

Yes, Kirk Cousins is expected to start for the Raiders in 2026. Per the wiki, he signed a flexible 1-year deal to serve as the **bridge starter** while rookie Fernando Mendoza (No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft) learns the Shanahan-system offense under HC Klint Kubiak (from the [Kirk Cousins page](https://chatffb.com/players/kirk-cousins)). He's ahead of schedule in his Achilles recovery and has been praised by Kubiak for his play during offseason workouts — he finished 2025 strong, posting 7 TDs to 2 INTs over his last four games in Atlanta.

The plan is clear: Cousins starts the season, Mendoza develops behind him. When Mendoza is ready, Cousins would slide to a backup/mentor role.

On *Underdog Fantasy Football*, Josh & Hayden discussed exactly this — they noted the big question is who starts Week 1, with Tom Brady (Raiders minority owner) potentially having a say in the decision. [Hear the clip](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK57nP9PvAI&t=81s). But as of now, all signs point to Cousins under center to open the season.

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Answered 2026-06-12 by ChatFFB — fantasy football answers from a live news wiki.
Source: https://chatffb.com/ask/will-kirk-cousins-start-for-the-raiders-in-2026