New Delhi, Nov. 12 -- HENDERSON, Nev. - Fernando Mendoza did not know the Raiders were about to remove the veteran standing between him and his first NFL start. Now Kirk Cousins is in Minnesota, Seattle is coming to Las Vegas, and the rookie must turn months of preparation into something a practice field cannot establish.

Mendoza said Wednesday that he had "no inkling" the trade was coming before learning Cousins was returning to the Vikings. He nevertheless described taking over as a "new step," not a whirlwind, pointing to the work he has done since joining the Raiders as this year's first overall draft pick.

The distinction is important for a team sitting at 4-5. Las Vegas is not presenting the change as an early surrender to next se...