There isn’t a full-blown quarterback controversy in Las Vegas, at least for now.
After an impressive win over the Baltimore Ravens the previous week, the Las Vegas Raiders regressed in a tough 36-22 home loss to the Carolina Panthers, led by Andy Dalton. By the end of the third quarter, the Panthers had built a commanding 27-7 lead.
Though the Raiders had several issues in the defeat, one key moment came when head coach Antonio Pierce made a notable decision. After closing the gap to 33-15 and getting the ball back with just over nine minutes remaining, quarterback Gardner Minshew threw an interception on the second play of the drive.
In response, Pierce immediately replaced Minshew with backup quarterback and 2023 starter Aidan O’Connell. As noted by ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez, Pierce explained his decision:
“The game was pretty much out of reach, and we’ve got two quarterbacks who fought hard,” Pierce said. “So I figured, let the other guy take some snaps and see what he can do.”
Despite the setback and a 1-2 record, there is no indication that Pierce intends to make changes at the quarterback position.
Raiders’ offensive struggles highlighted by underutilization of Davante Adams
Minshew has maintained a solid completion rate of 73.7% over three games but has managed only three touchdowns and three interceptions. He and O’Connell, a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, were in a close battle for the starting quarterback role during training camp, with Minshew ultimately being chosen late in the preseason. Last season, O’Connell played 11 games, completing 62.1% of his passes for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
The Raiders’ offense has been underwhelming through three games, with a key issue being their struggle to consistently involve star receiver Davante Adams. Not surprisingly, their only win this season coincided with Adams’ best performance, where he caught nine passes for 110 yards and a touchdown.
If the Raiders don’t find a way to get the ball into Adams’ hands more frequently, changes will be necessary. Otherwise, the season could take a turn for the worse, especially with a challenging slate of games coming up against the Steelers, Rams, Chiefs, Bengals, and Dolphins starting in Week 6.
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