Fernando Mendoza will start for Raiders after Kirk Cousins traded to Minnesota

Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza was tabbed to make his first NFL start, and his assignment this weekend will be daunting -- the quarterback will face the Seattle Seahawks, the defending Super Bowl champions.Read more trending news The rookie will start in place of Kirk Cousins, who was reunited with the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday when Las Vegas traded him before the NFL trade deadline, ESPN reported.Mendoza, 23, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL draft, led Indiana to its first national title in football last season. He has seen limited action during his debut year in the NFL, completing six of eight passes in a mop-up role during the Raiders’ 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots on Oct. 11.Raiders general manager John Spytek said that Mendoza “passed every test” and was ready to direct the offense for Las Vegas, which is 4-5 this season.“It’s something that (Mendoza’s) worked very hard for since the moment he walked into this building,” Spytek said, accordin