Raiders QB competition to play out in preseason

Aug 5, 2024, 1:25 PM | Updated: 1:26 pm

HENDERSON, NEVADA - MAY 29: Quarterbacks Aidan O'Connell #12 and Gardner Minshew #15 of the Las Veg...

(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Sactown Sports

Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell could compete for the Raiders’ starting quarterback job into September, with each slated to play one full quarter in the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday.

Coach Antonio Pierce said Las Vegas would not commit to a starter in the preseason game but confirmed each would get a “legit quarter” running the offense.

“We’ve still got two more true training camp practices, then we’ve got Wednesday, Thursday, and then that’s when we’ll start looking at what we want to do game-wise,” Pierce told reporters Monday. “Like I said, both quarterbacks are gonna play a legit quarter. Who goes out first and who goes out second really doesn’t matter. (They should) get hopefully an equal amount of snaps and opportunity to showcase.”

“Somebody has to step up.”

As the #Raiders QB competition heats up, AP says no decision has been made on if Gardner Minshew or Aidan O’Connell will draw the start in the first preseason game Saturday at Minnesota.

‘They’ll hopefully get an equal amount of snaps and opportunity’ pic.twitter.com/FGWvu5YtUK

— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) August 5, 2024

More on the Raiders QB battle

O’Connell took care of the ball late last season with one interception in the final six games as the Raiders chased a wild-card spot. Pierce saw enough from the 2023 fourth-round pick to give him a chance to keep the full-time job.

Pierce said recent turnovers in practices are hurting Minshew, who became the starter for the Colts last season when Anthony Richardson suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Minshew was signed by the Raiders in free agency to compete with the holdover O’Connell, 25, who had 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions as a rookie last season.

But O’Connell, Pierce said, has been impacted by drops from wide receivers.

“I don’t think it’s just on the quarterbacks. I think overall our offensive play has to pick up, sense of urgency, wide receivers, O-line, it’s all those guys,” Pierce said.

–Field Level Media