Fernando Mendoza continues to sound like a kid who just grew into an adult overnight.
The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback finally got some game action Saturday in his team’s preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. Mendoza had a mixed bag of a performance, throwing for 97 yards and a touchdown on a 10/16 passing clip.
The Indiana alum spoke to reporters after the game and named two things he was most surprised by at the NFL level. One was how much faster defenders are in the pros. The other was a matter that had nothing to do with the play on the field.
“I drove to the stadium today,” Mendoza said during his postgame press conference.
“And that was the first time I’ve ever done that because, usually in college, you just hop on the bus. It’s very regimented, so there’s a lot more autonomy that you get as an NFL player, a lot more flexibility.”
Things are a little different for @fernandomendoza now that he's in the NFL 😂
— NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2026
(via @Raiders) pic.twitter.com/iHySsISnGW
Mendoza added that it’s “beneficial” for younger players to be given that level of freedom and to have to rely on their own self-discipline.
Fernando being able to drive to the stadium on his own also comes with another perk — he gets to choose his own path. Earlier this week, Mendoza revealed that he is terrified of the Las Vegas Strip and wants to avoid it at all costs. He even compared the area to “the boogeyman,” given how often people have warned him not to go there.
With Mendoza now setting his own GPS on the way to Allegiant Stadium for game days, he can at least make sure he doesn’t take a turn on South Las Vegas Boulevard.
