Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce did little Monday to clear up questions surrounding his quarterback situation following Sunday’s 36-22 home loss to the previously winless Carolina Panthers.
Veteran QB Gardner Minshew started the match under center but was replaced late in the fourth quarter by second-year signal-caller Aidan O’Connell, the team’s 2023 fourth-round pick who started 10 games last season. Minshew ended the day 18 of 28 (64.3%) for 214 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while O’Connell went 9 of 12 (75%) for 82 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions on the team’s final drive.
Pierce, who called out his team for a glaring “lack of effort” in the loss, told reporters he was trying to give his team “a spark” when asked about the late QB change. Unfortunately for the first-year head coach, that spark never came, as the Raiders lost by double digits and fell to 1-2 on the season.
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While Minshew originally beat out O’Connell for the starting position during training camp this offseason, Pierce wouldn’t rule out a change at QB1 for Week 4, saying the team still needed to “evaluate everything” that happened Sunday.
However, NFL Network later reported that the Raiders will stick with Minshew as the starter for now.
The Raiders signed Minshew, 28, to a two-year, $25 million contract in free agency this offseason, while the 26-year-old O’Connell inked a four-year, $4.35 million rookie deal with Las Vegas in May 2023.
Up next, the Raiders face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, with both teams eyeing their second win of the season.
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