Team declines to turn to Desmond Ridder after the bye
Desmond Ridder replaced Gardner Minshew the last time the Las Vegas Raiders played.
Yet, Minshew will remain the starter as the team returns from its bye week Sunday at the Miami Dolphins. Kickoff is at 10 a.m. PT.
It seemed logical that the Raiders would give Ridder a chance to start after the bye for the 2-7 Raiders. Minshew has been replaced three times this season and he leads the NFL in turnovers.
This seemed like the perfect time to give Ridder, who has started 17 games for the Atlanta Falcons, a chance as the Raiders begin the Scott Turner era as the interim offensive coordinator as he replaced Luke Getsy, who was fired after a Week 9 loss at the Cincinnati Bengals.
Yet, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said Wednesday the coaching staff thinks Minshew gives the team the best chance to win and Pierce said the team needs to show confidence in Minshew, who was signed to a two-year contract as a free agent in March. He beat out Aidan O’Connell in training camp.
“Gardner gives us the best opportunity to move forward ,,, what do we got to lose at his point. We’re 2-7,” Pierce said Wednesday.
Ridder must look awful in practice. No other reason makes sense. #Raiders
— Bill Williamson (@BWilliamsonNFL) November 13, 2024
Ridder replaced Minshew in a Week 9 loss at Cincinnati before the bye. Ridder was 11 of 16 for 74 yards in the game. Sunday will be Ridder’s third game with the Raiders since they signed him off of the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad in October after O’Connell broke his thumb.
O’Connell is eligible to come off the injured reserve November 29 at the Kansas City Chiefs. O’Connell was hurt in his second game after being named the starter.
We will see what happens at the position in the next two games before that.
