Las Vegas Raiders sign free agent QB Nathan Peterman

Aug 14, 2024, 6:34 AM

INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - AUGUST 19: Nathan Peterman #14 of the Chicago Bears throws a pass in the fo...

(Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

Sactown Sports

The Las Vegas Raiders signed free agent quarterback Nathan Peterman on Tuesday.

Peterman, 30, previously served as a backup to then-Raiders quarterback Derek Carr in 2020 and 2021.

He should be familiar with the Raiders’ playbook under offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who was his offensive coordinator the past two seasons with the Chicago Bears.

Peterman is 1-4 as an NFL starter, completing 53.1 percent of his passes for 712 yards, four touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 15 games with the Buffalo Bills (2017-18), Raiders (2020-21) and Bears (2022-23).

Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell currently are competing for the QB1 job in Las Vegas.

Coach Antonio Pierce said he hopes to decide on a starter following Saturday’s preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.

The Raiders placed wide receiver Keelan Doss on the waived/injured list to make room for Peterman.

–Field Level Media

More on the Las Vegas Raiders QB situation

Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell could compete for the Raiders’ starting quarterback job into September.

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

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.