Raiders HC talks QB situation after pulling Gardner Minshew

Gardner Minshew. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Raiders HC addresses QB situation after pulling Gardner Minshew in Week 5

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Oct 7, 2024 3:31 PM ET

Are the Las Vegas Raiders ready to make a quarterback change?

During a 34-18 road loss to the Denver Broncos (3-2) in Week 5, Raiders backup QB Aidan O'Connell replaced starter Gardner Minshew late in the third quarter. During his Monday news conference, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce refused to name a starter before Sunday's home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers (3-2).

"Yeah, just keep evaluating the film, evaluating everything from the scheme, players — everything," Pierce said while discussing the QBs. "So, we're still doing that upstairs, currently."

Through his first five games, Minshew has struggled to take care of the ball, tying for third in the league in interceptions thrown (five).

Against the Broncos, Minshew finished 12-of-17 passing for 137 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, including a 100-yard pick-six to Denver cornerback Patrick Surtain II early in the second quarter.

Afterward, the Raiders unraveled, failing to score another TD until late in the fourth quarter.

A 100 YARD PICK 6!! @PatSurtainll pic.twitter.com/Xh3CG05U9J
— NFL (@NFL) October 6, 2024

"I think everybody understood and saw that," Pierce said of Minshew's interception. "But, you know, he went back out there, and I thought there were some opportunities for us to make plays. At that point, we just didn't. At that [point], offensively, we hit the mud."

O'Connell completed 10 of 20 passes for 94 yards and one interception in the loss to Denver. He also stepped in for Minshew during a 36-22 Week 3 loss to the Carolina Panthers (1-4). He finished that game 9-of-12 for 82 yards and one TD.

While O'Connell hasn't fully capitalized on his chances this year, Pierce may feel indebted to the second-year quarterback. After Pierce assumed head-coaching duties when Vegas fired Josh McDaniels last season, he switched from former Vegas QB Jimmy Garoppolo to O'Connell. The former fourth-round pick out of Purdue went 5-4 in nine starts under Pierce, helping him land the full-time gig.

Ultimately, the Raiders' answer at the most important position may not be on the roster. Las Vegas should start scouting QBs in the 2025 NFL Draft including Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Miami's Cam Ward and Alabama's Jalen Milroe.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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