Back to training camp we go
Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce ended a training camp battle on August 18 (three weeks before the season opener) by naming Gardner Minshew the starter over Aidan O’Connell.
Now, in Week 6 of the regular season, we’re going back to a battle. There have been multiple reports that the Raiders have decided to have Minshew and O’Connell battle this week in practice before determining who will start Sunday at home against the defensively stout Pittsburgh Steelers.
It is pretty unusual for teams to be unsettled at quarterback during the practice week when it doesn’t involve injuries.
Yet, here we are.
Pierce pulled Minshew in favor of O’Connell in the third quarter of a 34-18 loss at the Denver Broncos on Sunday. Minshew threw two interceptions, once which was returned for a touchdown. O’Connell was also intercepted.
Monday, Pierce told reporters that the coaching staff was still going through the game film before making a decision.
Ultimately, they decided neither quarterback flat-out earned the right to be the starter this week, so the practice time will be the deciding factor.
The truth is, though, whoever is facing the Steelers, should get as many reps as possible in practice and the other offensive players need to be in sync with the starter.
So, an in-week practice battle is risky.
We wrote two weeks ago when Pierce toyed with the idea of replacing Minshew with O’Connell that the Raiders can’t afford to have quarterback drama on a weekly basis. But it seems like this will be a position of flux until it isn’t.
Neither quarterback has looked good, but the team is just looking for a spark. If O’Connell wins this battle, Minshew will loom over him if the second-year player falters.
The Raiders felt good enough about Minshew and O’Connell in the offseason and now they have shown they are just trying to survive at the position.
There is no doubt the Raiders will be searching for their quarterback of the future for the third straight offseason in 2025. Until then, get used to the flux between Minshew and O’Connell for the rest of the season.
