MINNEAPOLIS, MN – AUGUST 10: Aidan O’Connell #12 of the Las Vegas Raiders during a preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It jumped out of my pocket. (Photo by Steven Maturen/Getty Images)
Aidan O’Connell will start at quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, replacing former starter Gardner Minshew.
Head coach Antonio Pierce announced the decision on Wednesday. The Raiders made changes after starting 2-3 and losing to AFC West rival Denver Broncos in Week 5.
Pierce declined to elaborate when asked why he made that decision.
“There was a quarterback battle early on,” Pierce said. “At this point, I think it’s best to move forward with Aidan.”
“We’re not going to switch all the time. When it’s time to switch, we’ll switch.”
O’Connell started 10 games for the Raiders as a rookie last season, while Pierce served as the team’s interim head coach. He completed 62.1 percent of his passes for 201.6 yards per game, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. The Raiders went 5-5 in games in which O’Connell started.
The Raiders signed Minshew to a two-year, $25 million contract in the offseason after he served as a backup quarterback with the Indianapolis Colts. Minshew is a six-year NFL veteran who joins the Raiders and has played in 37 games as an NFL starter with three different teams.
Pierce named Minshew the starting quarterback after competing for the position in the preseason and training camp.
“It’s everything I saw in surgery, processing and practice,” Pierce said in August of Minshew’s award. “Some of that showed in the game. There’s a lot of things we can get better at. I don’t think what we have here is a finished product.
“But considering where we want to be in the first quarter of the season, we feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity.”
Minshew started five games this season, completing 70.7 percent of his passes with four touchdowns and five interceptions for 202.8 yards per game. The Raiders rank 24th in the league in total offense and 15th in passing yards per game.
Pierce benched Minshew for O’Connell after Minshew threw his second interception of the game in the third quarter of Sunday’s 34-18 loss to the Broncos. Minshew’s first interception was in the end zone and returned 100 yards to Patrick Surtain II, the No. 6 pick. The Raiders had a chance to take a two-possession lead after the first interception, but the lead fell to 10-10. 10 ties.
At the time of the quarterback change, the Raiders led 20-10. Minshew completed 12 of 17 passes against the Broncos, with one touchdown and two interceptions.
After replacing Minshew, O’Connell completed 10 of 20 passes for 94 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
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