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The Las Vegas Raiders benched quarterback Gardner Minshew in favor of Aidan O’Connell with just over a quarter left to play in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.
Minshew completed 12 of 17 passes for 137 yards and one touchdown, but he also threw two interceptions and took some ugly sacks. On his last drive, Minshew underthrew receiver Tre Tucker and was picked off by Broncos cornerback Riley Moss. Raiders coach Antonio Pierce decided he saw enough and put O’Connell in.
After replacing Minshew, O’Connell went 10-for-20 for 94 yards and an interception when Broncos cornerback Pat Surtain II deflected a pass intended for tight end Brock Bowers and picked him off in the fourth quarter.
When asked postgame about which quarterback would start next week versus the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pierce said, “I don’t know.”
“I don’t have an answer for that one yet,” Pierce said.
Tip drill. 👐
📺: FOX | @PatSurtainll pic.twitter.com/uaO3d78XnC
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) October 6, 2024
This was O’Connell’s second time getting game action this season. With the matchup out of hand in a blowout loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, he played the Raiders’ final offensive series. He led a touchdown drive, but the Raiders returned to Minshew in the next two games.
Last season Pierce, the then-interim head coach, pivoted to O’Connell mid-season, placing the rookie quarterback at starter ahead of Jimmy Garoppolo. The Raiders went 5-5 under O’Connell after starting the season 3-5. Las Vegas posted its two highest-scoring outings under the rookie quarterback form Purdue, including a 30-6 win over the Giants in his first career start as well as a 63-21 win over the Los Angeles Chargers.
(Photo: Steve Marcus / Getty Images)
