In the Las Vegas Raiders’ second preseason game, the first overall pick in this year’s draft, quarterback Fernando Mendoza, got his first NFL start. For the rookie QB, the night ended with zero touchdowns and one pick-six.

“A pick-six is probably one of the worst things that can happen to you as a rookie,” former NBA star Joe Johnson said on The Nightcap show. “Not only do you throw the pick-six, but you get the damn ball right back. So, you got to get back out there and get right to it.”

It was during the first quarter and the Raiders’ first drive. Mendoza snapped the ball, looked for a receiver, and then threw it into the air as a defender pressured him.

That led to Houston Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz grabbing the ball and running 80 yards for a touchdown. Mendoza tried to stop him, taking a leap before rolling toward the sideline.

Woodaz’s pick-six gave Houston a 14-0 lead. The rookie linebacker jumped in front of a pass intended for Raiders running back Mike Washington Jr. and took advantage of the small mistake made by Mendoza.

“I came away with there’s a lot more learning to do, and although that maybe you may have had a lot of success at another level, this level is a whole step further and that the margins are so small, and that one tiny mistake can lead to catastrophe,” Mendoza said, per ESPN.

That mistake helped Houston build a 20-3 lead. Although the Raiders eventually won 22-20, the comeback happened after quarterback Aidan O’Connell took over in the second half. The backup QB held the Texans at 20 points and led Las Vegas from three points to 22 in the remaining quarters.

For Mendoza, the night ended with eight of 15 passes completed, a 53.3% completion rate, 86 yards, one interception, one sack, and zero touchdowns.

“I think there’s plenty to clean up, plenty to get better at,” Las Vegas head coach Klint Kubiak said. “Plenty that we can do better for him as coaches. Plenty that he can learn from.”

This was a reality check for the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, who came off a non-losing season with Indiana. Success at the college level can create huge expectations, but the NFL demands more from a quarterback. Mendoza will need to improve his athleticism, pocket presence, and decision-making to enjoy the same kind of breakout in his professional career.

However, Johnson also said that he did “like Mendoza” and that preseason games are a “learning curve for all these rookies.” The former NBA player explained that the difference in Mendoza’s performances across the two preseason games also came from the teams he faced.

The Arizona Cardinals are not known for their defense right now. Last season, they ranked near the bottom of the league in overall defense and finished with a 3-14 record. The Texans, meanwhile, had the second-best defense in the league and finished with a 12-5 record.

That difference in opposition gave Mendoza a much tougher test in his first start. The Texans’ defense forced him to make quicker decisions, and one inaccurate throw turned into an immediate touchdown for Houston.