Raiders QB Competition Heats Up Following Preseason Opener vs Vikings
August 11, 2024
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The Las Vegas Raiders enter the 2024 season ready to get themselves back to the postseason. After finishing last year with a record of 8-9, Las Vegas is determined to find more success.
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The team brought back interim head coach Antonio Pierce after he seemed to rally the players down the stretch. Pierce has a fiery personality to himself, something that the players in the locker room can feed off of.
However, the biggest challenge for Las Vegas this season will be at the quarterback spot. Las Vegas has two options for the starting role, second-year signal-caller Aidan O’Connell or veteran Gardner Minshew.
O’Connell was with the Raiders last year and showed promise in limited time. Minshew signed with Las Vegas in the offseason after spending last year with the Indianapolis Colts.
Following the Raiders’ first preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings, the competition for the starting spot has heated up. Both players received snaps and played well enough to earn their keep.
“Yeah, it was good. Good reps there for Aidan. Backed up, got us drove all the way down the length of the field. It was close there, was thinking about going for the fourth down, negative play, we kicked a field goal,” head coach Antonio Pierce said post-game, via team transcripts. “And then Gardner came in, three good drives. Really for both quarterbacks, all four possessions led to points on the board for the Raiders. That was positive. There’s a lot of things obviously we can learn from it.”
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 10: Aidan O’Connell #12 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks to pass the ball in the first quarter of the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on… MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – AUGUST 10: Aidan O’Connell #12 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks to pass the ball in the first quarter of the preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on August 10, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. O’Connell is in the midst of a quarterback battle for the starting spot.
Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
O’Connell got the start against Minnesota, completing 7-of-9 passes for 76 yards. His lone drive resulted in a field goal for the Raiders but he displayed more poise and comfortability in the pocket.
Minshew came in as the backup, throwing for 117 yards on 6-of-12 passes and one touchdown. He did miss on a few throws but showed that he can command an offense extremely well.
Both players have the talent to be starting quarterbacks in the NFL but only one can take the Las Vegas job. Pierce has a tough decision ahead of him for the role and will have to give one player the bad news down the line.
O’Connell may have the edge, at least for now, over Minshew due to his familiarity with the team from last season. He is also younger and the Raiders may want him to get more reps in to fully evaluate his game.
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