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Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza shows right response after seesaw showing in preseason Fernando Mendoza responded to his seesaw showing Thursday night against the Houston Texans in preseason play exactly how the Las Vegas Raiders have to come to expect. “He’s been phenomenal coming to work,” offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said Sunday before their first indoor practice of training camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center. “Good play. Bad play. Good series. Bad series. Just a guy that’s coming in. Coming to work and getting better.” Janocko affirmed the rookie quarterback is facing the right kind of resistance in training camp with three weeks to go before the Sept. 13 opener vs. the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium. Mendoza’s trip to Houston included two pick-6s — one Tuesday in a joint practice against the Texans and another Thursday in the first quarter of a 22-20 win — and a handful of darts with which he showcased his talent and potential as the top draft pick. At practice Sunday after starting Thursday, Mendoza quarterbacked the second team with Kirk Cousins reprising his role as the first-team quarterback he has had throughout camp. The rookie threw two interceptions during 11-on-11 play Sunday, one to cornerback Hezekiah Masses over the middle and another (during a play in which he was pressured, likely resulting in a sack) outside the numbers to cornerback Greedy Vance. “That’s what training camp is all about, putting guys in uncomfortable positions,” Janocko said in the media room. “So, when they go out in the game, they have the correct responses and ability to play fast and perform.” Mendoza through two preseason games (as the second-team quarterback in the opener and the starter last week with the first team resting) is 18 of 31 for 183 yards, a touchdown to wideout Jach Bech against Arizona and the interception-return score to Houston’s Wade Woodaz. He has delivered anticipatory dots in traffic and settled into rhythms after mistakes, generally following his downs with ups. His readiness is unwavering. “I think just his approach to his preparation is something that really stands out about him,” Janocko said. “How he approaches every day. How he is coming to ask questions. He’s trying to get better on every single aspect. He tries not to leave any detail, any stone unturned — and he tries to master the details of his craft.” As Mendoza finds more comfort behind center with the preseason slate wrapping Thursday night — against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium — Janocko wants to see the offense evolve collectively. Asked how the general offensive outlook impacts factors into when to play a rookie quarterback, Janocko made clear it’s coach Klint Kubiak’s decision. “I think we’re progressing as a team, we’re progressing as an organization. We’re trying to grow in all phases of our offense, every player, every position group,” Janocko said. “We like to see the guys develop in practice. We like to see what they’re doing in these preseason games and then basing decisions on that.” The Raiders also like what they’re seeing in Mendoza. “He’s just growing, day by day to where you can just see it in his play and his talk and his confidence,” cornerback Eric Stokes said. “To where like he’s not making the same mistakes twice and all the stuff, and even with me, he’s coachable. That’s the biggest thing that I try to take away. He’s coachable. He’s listening.” Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.