Aidan O’Connell will replace Gardner Minshew as starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend, coach Antonio Pierce has announced.
Pierce confirmed the change following the Raiders 34-18 defeat to the Denver Broncos on Sunday as Las Vegas slipped to 2-3 for the season.
Minshew started the Raiders’ first five games after being hailed by his coach at the start of the campaign as a player who “gives us [the Raiders] the best opportunity to get off to a fast start.”
In those five games, the 28-year-old has completed 70.7 percent of his passes for 1,014 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions in.
However, Minshew appears to fallen out of favour with Pierce after throwing two interceptions — including a 100-yard pick-six — against the Broncos.
The Silver & Black fall short on the road in Week 5#RaiderNationhttps://t.co/F5NAak3zod
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 8, 2024
And at his press conference on Wednesday, the Raiders coach confirmed that O’Connell would take Minshew’s place in the team.
“It was a quarterback battle early on. [Minshew] started five games, and at this point, I think it’s best to go with Aidan going forward,” said Pierce.
O’Connell started 10 games as a rookie last year, and Pierce highlighted his maturity and leadership as a key factor in the decision.
“Confidence,” Pierce said. “Out of that shell, not looking like a rookie no more.
“Not acting like a rookie no more. He has a certain presence about himself. And it’s not so outgoing where you’ll just notice it. But if you’ve been around him enough, he’s definitely speaking up a lot more.
“I love how he walks around the building. Really, what I respected the most is when we named Gardner the starter, he said, alright, I’m going to be the best scout-team quarterback possible.
“And every day he gave us the best look. And he walked around with a smile on his face. And if you remember the Baltimore game, he and Jackson Powers were sitting there rallying the troops and pumping them up and he was just a great teammate.
“So, all those things factor into the decisions.”
Game Preview: Raiders host Steelers for Week 6 battlehttps://t.co/Y25fqZC30f
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 9, 2024
Pierce revealed that Minshew handled the news “like a pro” and also said he does not envision making another QB change this season, but he will if necessary.
The Raiders coach added: “I don’t plan on making switches any time.
“When it’s time to make a switch, we’ll make a switch.”
