After benching Gardner Minshew in two of their previous three video games, the Raiders at the moment are planning to make the veteran reclaim the job by way of a contest with backup Aidan O’Connell.
The QBs’ newest battle will happen in apply this week, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur notes. This marks one other chapter in a long-running matchup to find out which quarterback is Las Vegas’ higher stopgap choice, as ties to 2025 draft prospects are undoubtedly coming quickly. For now, the Raiders might want to once more choose Minshew or O’Connell, the crew’s choices after six quarterbacks went off this yr’s draft board earlier than the crew’s No. 13 general choose.
Antonio Pierce
put a temporary halt to speculation he would bench Minshew, however after Patrick Surtain‘s 100-yard pick-six keyed a Broncos blowout that featured a second Minshew interception, the Vegas HC has not provided the sixth-year veteran any assurances the job remains to be his for the crew’s Week 6 matchup in opposition to the Steelers. O’Connell, the crew’s starter for the second half of final season, could quickly have his newest probability.
Though O’Connell additionally tossed an interception to Surtain within the Raiders’ 34-18 loss, one among Pierce’s first selections as interim HC was to put in him as QB1. The Raiders benched Jimmy Garoppolo shortly after firing Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler final yr, and the fourth-round choose began each sport throughout Pierce’s interim interval. O’Connell additionally was believed to have a leg up on Minshew in the course of the passers’ offseason competitors, however Pierce cited the veteran as the higher choice to assist the crew begin sturdy. Regardless of a highway win over the Ravens, the Raiders have been unable to ascertain constant offense with Minshew on the controls.
Minshew ranks twenty seventh in QBR, representing a steep fall from his Colts end (thirteenth) final season. Minshew commanded a two-year, $25M deal this offseason — a pact that led all non-Kirk Cousins FA passers on this class — however grew to become insurance coverage within the occasion the Raiders didn’t draft a passer this yr. Minshew has 42 profession begins on his resume however might be headed again to the bench, as it could be attention-grabbing if Pierce benched the incumbent twice solely to love his most up-to-date apply work and hold the established order in place.
