Gardner Minshew’s struggles could lead to Aidan O’Connell’s return to the starting job
The Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders go into Week 4 with the same 1-2 records but, given expectations coming into the season, one team has failed expectations. While the Browns hope that the slow start around the AFC will help them when they rebound, they must defeat the Raiders in Week 4 to settle things.
While both Cleveland, with OL Wyatt Teller, and Las Vegas, with S Marcus Epps, had new injuries in Week 3, the Raiders might have a bigger change in mind.
Last year, QB Aidan O’Connell played relatively well as a rookie but Gardner Minshew was signed this offseason to create a competition. The two-year, $25 million contract Minshew signed seemed to give the veteran a leg up and he ended up winning the job.
After getting blown out by the Carolina Panthers, which included O’Connell coming in in relief of Minshew, HC Antonio Pierce is mulling a change at quarterback:
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters that he’s not ruling out a quarterback change this week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 23, 2024
Pierce noted he needed to speak to the players first.
Last year, O’Connell completed 62% of his passes for 2,218 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. So far in three games in Las Vegas, Minshew has completed 74% of his passes for 747 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions.
Minshew is playing on his fourth team since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL draft. He’s started 40 games and played in 52 in that five-plus-year span so far.
We will keep you up to date as more information becomes available out of Raiders practices.
