Pierce not ready to name Raiders' starting QB as questions swirl

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — If Raiders coach Antonio Pierce changes quarterbacks, he likely will have to stick with Aidan O'Connell for the rest of the season.

Otherwise, what's the point?

Pierce made clear when he took over as Las Vegas' interim coach midway through last season that O'Connell was the starter the rest of the way.

He wasn't ready to be so concrete on Monday on whether sitting Gardner Minshew — the Raiders' starter the first five games — would mean a permanent change to O'Connell. Pierce didn't want to box himself in just yet, at least publicly, so he batted down any questions along those lines.

But it has to be a factor in his thinking as the Raiders (2-3) try to respond to Sunday's 34-18 loss to the Broncos. Minshew was benched at Denver after throwing two interceptions, though O'Connell didn't elevate the team's play, either, in passing for 94 yards with a pick of his own.

The last thing Pierce wants is to do is flip-flop the quarterbacks the rest of the season, so if he and the staff believe Minshew still gives the Raiders their best chance to win, they probably will remain with him.

But there's also the idea of finding out whether O'Connell has much of a future. If Pierce decides to go back to O'Connell, it largely will be with an eye on the big picture rather than trying to win week to week.

Pierce might not be there yet, hoping to salvage the season with 12 games left on the schedule.

“I’ve seen enough Aidan last year and a lot this year,” Pierce said. “I know what to expect when Aidan gets in the game.”

The real problem for the Raiders is the quarterback they need isn't on the roster. That player could still be in college or might be on another NFL roster because neither O'Connell nor Minshew has shown he is capable of making the Raiders a contender.

If Las Vegas can trade wide receiver Davante Adams for assets that will benefit the club and maybe even help land one of those quarterbacks, that's probably the Raiders' best way out of this mess.

How soon the Raiders make a deal, if they are able to pull one off, remains uncertain. Pierce called it “status quo.”

When asked where it all went wrong with Adams, Pierce said, “You’ve got to ask Davante that.”

What’s working

Maxx Crosby almost any time he's on the field. After a high ankle sprain caused him to miss a game for the first time in his career, Crosby came back looking like the same pass-rush menace. He had two sacks to reach five for the season, putting him on pace to surpass his career high of 14 1/2 set last year.

What needs help

Special teams usually isn't an issue, but the coverage teams didn't have their best day against the Broncos. They allowed 54 yards on two punt returns and 61 yards on two kickoff returns. One 38-yard punt return put the Broncos at the 50-yard line and helped set up a touchdown.

Stock up

Tight end Brock Bowers is the Raiders’ best first-round draft pick since they selected running back Josh Jacobs in 2019. He was targeted 12 times at Denver, catching eight passes for 97 yards. That included a 57-yard touchdown on the game’s opening drive in which Bowers caught the pass over one defender and showed his athletic ability by outrunning by another.

Stock down

The Raiders under Pierce have been a disciplined team that doesn't beat itself with penalties. Well, at least not until the trip to Denver, where Las Vegas committed 11 penalties for 79 yards. That was the most penalties for the Raiders since they committed 13 on Dec. 18, 2022 against New England.

Injuries

DT Christian Wilkins (foot) was injured against the Broncos. Pierce had no update on Monday.

Key number

7 — Rookie quarterbacks have seven consecutive victories against the Raiders with Denver's Bo Nix adding his name to that list. Those QBs have a combined 100 rating, 10 touchdown passes and two interceptions.

Next steps

The Raiders are back at home Sunday against Pittsburgh.

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