Fernando Mendoza wasn’t on the field for the Raiders’ season-opening win over the Dolphins.

The rookie was on the sidelines and chose to wear his helmet for the entire game. Why?

Rather than wear a headset or earpiece and wear a baseball cap, Mendoza donned the helmet to hear the play call. The backup quarterback said he was never offered a headset or was aware that was an option, but he appreciated the helmet because it made the simulation seem realistic.

“Wearing the helmet is pretty crucial because that’s where the play calls come in through, and that’s the microphone you hear from the speaker,” Mendoza said to Sam Warren of The Athletic. “When I wear the helmet, I can [experience] what I would actually see on the field.”

The Raiders drafted Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. While the Indiana product is the face of the future for the franchise, the team has been adamant about slow-playing the rookie’s debut.

As long as starting quarterback Kirk Cousins plays well, the Raiders will likely keep Mendoza on the sidelines to continue his development process. The 38-year-old’s performance in Week 1 was sufficient, but his limitations were evident against Miami.

Cousins completed 1 of 7 passes on throws traveling 10 or more yards downfield. If the Raiders’ offense becomes too predictable because of a poor downfield passing game, then the team may be inclined to turn to Mendoza.

Nevertheless, the rookie remains a backup and that will likely pay off in the long run as Mendoza continues to grow and learn by observing rather than hitting the ground running.