Antonio Pierce named the Week 1 starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders. But the first-year head coach doesn’t seem pleased with his options under center before the season after a lackluster battle at training camp.
Second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell has been dueling with veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew in training camp for the QB1 job. Pierce said last week that he planned to name a starting quarterback following Saturday night’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.
Minshew and O’Connell didn’t exactly light it up on Saturday night. Minshew went 10/21 passing for 95 yards. O’Connell went 14/20 passing for 96 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
The Las Vegas Raiders test didn’t go well for Aidan O’Connell
Per NFL Media, Pierce said Saturday night’s test didn’t go well for “both” quarterbacks:
“I mean, everything,” Pierce said when asked how much the pick six weighed over O’Connell’s TD drive. “You can’t take the good and not take the bad. Wish it went well for both gentlemen. It just didn’t, and we’ll evaluate. They both had opportunities.
Aidan had 20 attempts and Minshew had 21, so about as balanced as we can get it. We’ll look at it. Obviously you saw what our plan was tonight, throw the ball around and let these guys show what they can do.
Gardner Minshew will start in Week 1
Pierce made his decision on Sunday morning. Per the Raiders, Minshew will start against the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1. The 28-year-old quarterback earned his first career Pro Bowl appearance with the Indianapolis Colts last season.
Pierce made an interesting remark on Saturday night about the QB1 job. As mentioned above, Pierce said the quarterback battle didn’t go well for both quarterbacks. One has to wonder if it went well for either.
Antonio Pierce didn’t give Minshew a great endorsement
Per NFL Media, Pierce said neither quarterback stood out in camp:
“Everybody wants to see a player just take it and say, ‘I’m your guy,’ like I’ve been saying from Day 1,” Pierce said. “Obviously [that’s] probably not the case. So we’re going to have to make a decision, and we’re going to live with it and we’re going to support whoever that quarterback is for the Raiders going forward.”
Ouch.
Pierce’s comment can’t give Minshew much confidence before the season. It probably doesn’t inspire the rest of the Raiders to know their head coach doesn’t have faith in the team’s starter at the most important position in the sport.
Pierce’s statement is also curious, given reports that came out before April’s draft. Pierce and new general manager Tom Telesco had a difference of opinions on taking a rookie quarterback in the first round. Pierce, who Telesco did not hire as the Raiders head coach this offseason, wanted to trade up to take a quarterback.
Telesco took tight end Brock Bowers and said he was comfortable with Minshew and O’Connell this season.
Pierce wasn’t comfortable with the quarterback room this spring. He’s uncomfortable with Minshew starting in September, which is why Pierce begrudgingly named him the starter on Sunday morning.
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