Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce named his starting quarterback.
Gardner Minshew is expected to be the Raiders’ starter in Week 1 after competing for the position with second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell during training camp and the preseason.
“There’s a lot that goes into it,” Pierce told reporters. According to ESPN. “it is [solely] “I feel like Gardner gave our team the best opportunity to get off to a fast start last night. We’re going to use Gardner. We’re rooting for him, and the team, the staff, the organization is rooting for him.”
Minshew has started two preseason games, including Saturday’s game against the Cowboys, completing 16 passes for 212 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions.
The Raiders are Minshew’s fourth team in his six NFL seasons after signing a two-year, $25 million contract in March.
Pierce told reporters on Sunday that the decision was made in part because of the experience Minshew brings to the team, having played for Jacksonville, Philadelphia and Indianapolis.
“The strategy, the process, everything we saw in practice,” Pierce said, “some of it showed up in the game. There’s a lot of areas we can improve on. I don’t think what we have here is the finished product, but with where we’re headed in the first quarter of the season, we feel like Gardner gives us the best chance.”
O’Connell completed 21 of 29 attempts during the preseason for 172 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
The second-year quarterback stepped into the starting role last season in November and has scored eight touchdowns in the final four games of the 2023 season.
“These guys are both professionals,” Pierce said, “and the way they handled this competition really resonated throughout our building.”
