Raiders make big decision on Jimmy Garoppolo

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal first reported on Wednesday that the Raiders were strongly leaning toward benching Garoppolo in favor of O’Connell.

O’Connell, a fourth-round pick out of Purdue, has appeared in two games this season. He has completed 65% of his passes and has 313 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions.

Garoppolo was just 10/21 for 126 yards and an interception in Monday night’s 26-14 loss to the Detroit Lions. The Raiders would have had a much better chance to win had it not been for Garoppolo somehow missing a wide-open Davante Adams for what should have been a touchdown. Adams slammed his helmet on the sideline and had some telling comments to the media after the game.

The Raiders signed Garoppolo to a three-year, $67.5 million contract last offseason. Benching the veteran could be the first step toward moving on from him.

McDaniels likely had heavy influence over the decision to sign Garoppolo, as he and Garoppolo have a history together. Garoppolo played for the Patriots from 2014-2017, which was right in the middle of McDaniels’ second stint as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in New England.