Unlike the Las Vegas development earlier this season, Gardner Minshew‘s benching will last into the next week. Antonio Pierce announced Wednesday afternoon it will be Aidan O’Connell in Week 6.

The Raiders had been reportedly set to relaunch their Minshew-O’Connell competition from this offseason, going through practices to determine the starter. That would have been somewhat unusual given all the intel the team already has on the two passers. After sitting Minshew twice during games this season, Pierce will give O’Connell another shot.

Pierce said (via ESPN.com’s Paul Gutierrez) he wants O’Connell to start for the rest of the season, though the second-year Raiders HC couched that stance by noting Minshew would return to the lineup if needed. This back-and-forth has lasted for months, with an O’Connell offseason lead eventually turning into Minshew winning the job. Pierce then benched Minshew in Weeks 3 and 5. Pierce is now going back to the player who started throughout his interim HC run.

This brings O’Connell’s second in-season promotion. Although the 2023 fourth-round pick started in place of Jimmy Garoppolo in a game early last season (featuring a Khalil Mack sack explosion), Josh McDaniels went with Brian Hoyer over him when Garoppolo sustained a second injury. Shortly after the Raiders canned McDaniels, Pierce gave O’Connell the job for good. Garoppolo did not start another game with the team and was released, via a post-June 1 cut, this offseason.

O’Connell, who is already 26 despite entering the NFL last year, completed 62.1% of his passes as a rookie (at 6.5 per attempt). That came largely under interim OC Bo Hardegree, who is not on this year’s Raiders staff. O’Connell is at 59.4% and 5.5 per pass under OC Luke Getsy, though 32 passes is obviously not a sufficient sample size. The Raiders will expand that number beginning against the Steelers, but this ongoing drama should be expected to produce ties to future QB options soon.

The Raiders gave Minshew a two-year, $25MM deal ($15MM guaranteed at signing) as insurance in case the draft board did not fall their way. After Pierce pushed for a trade-up — with an unrealistic climb for former Arizona State charge Jayden Daniels the ultimate goal — GM Tom Telesco stood down. The Raiders had hosted Bo Nix on a pre-draft visit and were linked to Michael Penix Jr., but they did not view either as trade-up targets. Denver chose Nix at No. 12, and Las Vegas went with a best-player-available pick in Brock Bowers at 13. Bowers has shown immediate promise, and while he will currently be tasked with helping O’Connell, the Raiders will be looking for a way out of this long-running QB chapter soon.

Minshew, who is being benched despite at 70.7% completion rate (7.2 yards per attempt, albeit with a 4-to-5 TD-INT ratio) secured $3.16MM of his 2025 base salary ($11.84MM) guaranteed at signing. It will cost the Raiders $7.66MM in dead money to drop him in 2025. The Raiders are already on the hook for more than $17MM in dead cap due to the Garoppolo release; $12.8MM of that sum will hit the team’s cap sheet in 2025.

Minshew, 27, led the Colts to the playoff precipice; like Joe Flacco, he proved a more accurate solution than project Anthony Richardson. QBR slotted Minshew 13th last season. This led to the Raiders making him the second-highest-paid QB free agent of this year’s class. But he is now following Garoppolo — last year’s highest-paid QB free agent — in being benched for O’Connell, who joined Minshew in throwing INTs to Patrick Surtain on Sunday. Minshew threw a second pick in his Denver outing as well.

The Raiders enjoyed QB stability for nine seasons, with Derek Carr a dependable (if unremarkable) starter. The team has since started five QBs since Carr’s late-season benching two years ago. It will be O’Connell’s turn again, and with the Raiders having him under contract through 2026, this Minshew demotion gives the (slightly) younger passer a chance to audition for a 2025 stopgap gig.

After benching Gardner Minshew in two of their past three games, the Raiders are now planning to make the veteran reclaim the job via a competition with backup Aidan O’Connell.

The QBs’ latest battle will take place in practice this week, The Athletic’s Vic Tafur notes. This marks another chapter in a long-running matchup to determine which quarterback is Las Vegas’ better stopgap option, as ties to 2025 draft prospects are undoubtedly coming soon. For now, the Raiders will need to again pick Minshew or O’Connell, the team’s options after six quarterbacks went off this year’s draft board before the team’s No. 13 overall pick.

Antonio Pierce put a temporary halt to speculation he would bench Minshew, but after Patrick Surtain‘s 100-yard pick-six keyed a Broncos blowout that featured a second Minshew interception, the Vegas HC has not provided the sixth-year veteran any assurances the job is still his for the team’s Week 6 matchup against the Steelers. O’Connell, the team’s starter for the second half of last season, may soon have his latest chance.

Although O’Connell also tossed an interception to Surtain in the Raiders’ 34-18 loss, one of Pierce’s first decisions as interim HC was to install him as QB1. The Raiders benched Jimmy Garoppolo shortly after firing Josh McDaniels and GM Dave Ziegler last year, and the fourth-round pick started every game during Pierce’s interim period. O’Connell also was believed to have a leg up on Minshew during the passers’ offseason competition, but Pierce cited the veteran as the better option to help the team start strong. Despite a road win over the Ravens, the Raiders have been unable to establish consistent offense with Minshew at the controls.

Minshew ranks 27th in QBR, representing a steep fall from his Colts finish (13th) last season. Minshew commanded a two-year, $25MM deal this offseason — a pact that led all non-Kirk Cousins FA passers in this class — but became insurance in the event the Raiders did not draft a passer this year. Minshew has 42 career starts on his resume but may well be headed back to the bench, as it would be interesting if Pierce benched the incumbent twice only to like his most recent practice work and keep the status quo in place. O’Connell has completed just 57% of his passes, at 5.5 yards per attempt, in relief duty this season.

Gardner Minshew received the backing of Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce earlier in the season, but a quarterback change has indeed been made partway through the team’s Week 5 matchup.

Minshew began the game completing 12 of 17 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown. He threw an interception when the Raiders were close to scoring a touchdown, however, with Broncos corner Patrick Surtain returning it 100 yards for a Denver score. Minshew then tossed another pick late in the third quarter, and Vegas’ next possession had Aidan O’Connell in at quarterback. He completed 10 of his 20 passing attempts for 94 yards and an interception of his own as the Raiders fell to the Broncos, 34-18.

Pierce declined to name a Week 6 start immediately after the loss, according to Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports, but the mid-game switch indicates that a long-term change at quarterback is under consideration.

O’Connell had an encouraging finish to his rookie season in 2023, having been inserted into the lineup once Pierce was promoted to head coach on an interim basis. O’Connell received praise from the head coach during the offseason, but the Raiders gave Minshew a two-year, $25MM pact in free agency to serve as a bridge starter mentoring a rookie or a veteran capable of handling full-time starting duties. Neither passer ran away with the QB1 gig this summer, and it was Minshew who got the nod for the beginning of the campaign.

Through Vegas’ first four contests, the 28-year-old completed a career-high 70.7% of his passes. That resulted in an average of only 219 yards per game, though, and Minshew threw as many touchdowns (three) as interceptions. Struggling in the turnover department today – something which was a factor in him landing the starter’s role in the first place – has exacerbated the ongoing questions about Minshew’s status atop the depth chart. For a brief stretch, at least, O’Connell will get the opportunity to lead the Raiders’ offense.

Of course, that unit does not have All-Pro wideout Davante Adams in place for time being, and a trade sending him elsewhere could be finalized in the coming days. The likes of first-round rookie tight end Brock Bowers and veteran receiver Jakobi Meyers will handle the build of Vegas’ pass-catching work provided Adams does end up being dealt ahead of the trade deadline. With or without him, a strong showing by O’Connell, 26, could allow him to take over as the starter moving forward.

The Purdue product is attached to his rookie contract through the 2026 campaign, while Minshew’s deal includes $3.16MM guaranteed for next year. Both signal-callers should remain in the fold regardless of how the rest of this season plays out, but an extended O’Connell evaluation period could now be in store.

SEPTEMBER 25: Pierce ended the suspense regarding his starter, declaring Wednesday that Minshew “is the quarterback.” It would have been strange for the new HC to bring forth a change so soon, but leaving the door open as he did does leave this situation unstable before September’s end.

SEPTEMBER 24: Gardner Minshew did not finish the Raiders’ Week 3 loss to the Panthers, and Antonio Pierce left the door open to benching the quarterback he went with after a months-long position battle. It does not appear Pierce is ready to pull the plug just yet.

The Raiders parked Minshew during a stunning loss, and Pierce declined to confirm postgame his starting QB plan would remain the same. Aidan O’Connell entered and completed 9 of 12 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, coming in weeks after losing a close competition to the more experienced passer. O’Connell may well have a chance to start again, but NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport indicates Minshew will remain at the controls for the Raiders in Week 4.

Although Pierce criticized certain Raider players for their effort in the team’s home defeat, Minshew is barely a week removed from leading the team to a comeback win in Baltimore. The former Jaguars and Colts starter completed 30 of 38 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown against the Ravens; a switch to O’Connell two weeks later would certainly feel premature. But a change will be a Raiders storyline to monitor, as this is a transition season that features Minshew as a placeholder.

Signed in the event the Raiders did not end up with a quarterback prospect in the draft, Minshew inked a two-year, $25MM deal. That led all non-Kirk Cousins FA quarterbacks this offseason. Minshew played effectively in helping the Colts stay in the playoff race last season, and Indianapolis currently is not enjoying the kind of stability — albeit without a high ceiling — its primary 2023 starter offered. After ranking 13th in QBR last season, Minshew sits 24th through three games.

The Raiders showed steady interest in trading up for Jayden Daniels, most likely being the only team to submit an offer to the Commanders for No. 2 overall. Las Vegas also discussed the Nos. 3-5 picks, with Pierce potentially readier to part with necessary assets in a trade-up compared to GM Tom Telesco‘s mindset. Linked to Michael Penix Jr., the Raiders were not prepared to trade up for the player the Falcons surprisingly chose at No. 8 overall. Once the Broncos drafted Bo Nix at 12, the Raiders were effectively locked out of first-round-level QBs. They then chose Brock Bowers, effectively tabling their quarterback plan to 2025.

Vegas links to the likes of Carson Beck, Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers figure to emerge in the coming weeks and months, though those passers’ values have yet to crystalize. Minshew’s contract guarantees $3.16 of his $11.84MM 2025 base salary, giving the Raiders some flexibility next year. O’Connell, who started every game during Pierce’s interim HC season (after Jimmy Garoppolo‘s benching), is signed through 2026. He makes more sense as a Raiders 2025 bridge option/eventual backup compared to Minshew, who could be a trade candidate next year.

O’Connell was believed to be ahead of Minshew for several weeks this offseason, only to lose the battle due to the coaching staff’s feeling the latter option was better equipped to help this team avoid a slow start. With the Raiders at 1-2, Minshew will begin to test Pierce’s patience. The 28-year-old passer remains at the helm in Pierce’s first season as a full-time HC. The leash still appears short, as it always looked to be, but the sixth-year passer will hold off O’Connell for at least one more week.

As expected, the Raiders unveiled their quarterback plan after their second preseason contest. Head coach Antonio Pierce announced on Sunday that veteran Gardner Minshew will handle starting duties to begin the campaign.

That move ran counter to the way things were shaping up at the start of the offseason. Incumbent Aidan O’Connell worked with the first-team offense during the spring, and Vic Tafur of The Athletic notes the 2023 fourth-rounder threw fewer interceptions during practice than Minshew (subscription required). The latter’s mobility – and the importance of that skillet in OC Luke Getsy‘s system – was a key factor in winning the competition, though.

“There’s a lot of factors, so we feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to get off to a fast start, and that’s what we’re going with,” Pierce said when announcing the decision (via Tafur). “His personality is infectious … his leadership is infectious. Things [to improve on], footwork in the pocket, staying on script. There’s some magic about him when he does break the pocket and does his thing, but there’s a lot of times where if the first or second read is there, we got to let it rip.”

O’Connell’s arm strength and accuracy were more impressive during the offseason than Minshew’s, Tafur adds, but not by a large margin. As a result, the former sixth-rounder will get the opportunity to at least kick off the season atop the depth chart. Minshew has 37 starts to his name, including 13 last year when he took over for the injured Anthony Richardson in Indianapolis. His 84.6 passer rating helped keep the Colts in contention for a postseason berth through Week 18, but a more efficient output will be asked of him with the Raiders.

Minshew inked a two-year, $25MM deal in free agency and secured $15MM in guarantees in the process. The Colts were interested in keeping him in the fold as Richardson insurance, but the team was not prepared to match that financial commitment. With $3.16MM of his 2025 salary already locked in, the 28-year-old has a chance of remaining in Vegas regardless of how he performs in his latest QB1 gig.

O’Connell has three years remaining on his rookie contract, so he too should be assured of a roster spot for the foreseeable future (although the Raiders pursued a move up the first-round order during the draft to secure a quarterback and the team has frequently been named as a candidate to make a free agent addition under center next March). The Purdue alum – who drew considerable praise from Pierce after his rookie campaign and through the early portion of the offseason – could still get an opportunity if Minshew were to miss time through injury or struggle in the early going, but losing an open competition obviously represents a discouraging sign for his future starting potential in Vegas.

Last we heard, the Raiders were in no hurry to announce who would enter the 2024 NFL season as their starting quarterback. That was two weeks ago, and now, that tune has changed. Head coach Antonio Pierce has stated that the team’s “goal is to announce a starter following the team’s next exhibition game,” per ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez.

So, what changed to prompt Pierce to decide that it’s time? “We’ve got to get ready to play football, and I think we’ve got enough film,” Pierce told the media following the team’s first preseason contest. “We’ll have two games here (by that point) to evaluate both quarterbacks to see how they’ll play.”

It’s currently a two-man race between veteran Gardner Minshew and second-year passer Aidan O’Connell. O’Connell started 10 games (including the last nine games of the season) for Las Vegas last year as a fourth-round rookie out of Purdue. Taking over for a benched Jimmy Garoppolo, he went 5-5 in those starts, completing 62.1 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns to seven interceptions.

Minshew’s career as a starter has been a rollercoaster. Drafted out of Washington State as a backup for Nick Foles in Jacksonville, Minshew was immediately pushed into action when Foles suffered an injury that would keep him out for most of the season. Minshew became an overnight sensation that season, going 6-6 in 12 starts and throwing 21 touchdowns to only six interceptions. He entered the following season as the starter, but injuries and a 1-7 record pushed him out of the role.

Minshew was traded to the Eagles, where he started four games over the next two years as a backup to Jalen Hurts. His rookie contract expired, Minshew signed with the Colts, hoping to win an open starting job post-Matt Ryan. Indianapolis ended up drafting Anthony Richardson fourth overall in the first round, but Richardson got hurt, eventually missing the final 12 games of the season. Minshew took over as the Colts’ starter, and returned to his usual self, excelling as a surprise starter. In 13 starts, Minshew went 7-6 last year.

O’Connell started the Raiders’ first preseason game, playing one quarter of football. He went seven of nine for 76 yards as he led the team on an 83-yard field goal drive to open the scoring for Las Vegas. Minshew took over in the second quarter, playing four series. He completed six of 12 pass attempts for 117 yards and a touchdown.

The Raiders were viewed as a team that could have drafted a quarterback in the first round back in April, one that could have competed with these two unlikely starting candidates, but they instead opted to select the draft’s top tight end prospect in Georgia’s Brock Bowers. In a recent interview on Scoop City, Raiders general manager Tom Telesco detailed that the team didn’t “pass” on a quarterback, he just believes the draft didn’t shake out in a way that allowed them to take a passer. There were six quarterbacks taken before their selection, and the next passer wasn’t selected until the fifth round. If something fell to them, the Raiders might have had another competitor for this job. As it played out, though, they instead got a new weapon for the competitors they have now.

Those competitors will now have a week to prove their mettle. A week of practices and a preseason game against the Cowboys is all they have now to prove they deserve the starting job. We’ll keep a close eye on any developments in the coming week.