BREAKING: Las Vegas Raiders announce Week 1 starting quarterback; fans react

The Las Vegas Raiders are choosing experience over homegrown youth at the quarterback position to start the season. Per multiple reports, head coach Antonio Pierce named Gardner Minshew as the Radiers’ QB1 in Week 1 when they play the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Las Vegas Raiders gave each QB a chance on Saturday night

Per NFL Media, Pierce hinted the Raiders would give Minshew the starting job after the pick six Aidan O’Connell threw during Saturday night’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys:

“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.”

Before Saturday night’s game, Pierce said he had enough on tape of each quarterback to name a starter. He wanted to give Minshew and O’Connell one final chance to show what they could bring to the Raiders during the Cowboys game.

Minshew got the start against the Cowboys. He went 10/21 passing for 95 yards. O’Connell went 14/20 for 86 yards and one touchdown. But O’Connell’s interception, which turned into a pick six, was costly.

“It sucks,” O’Connell said, via Paul Gutierrez with ESPN. “It sucks to throw interceptions in general, but to be the last play is definitely tough. That one will linger, but it’s football. You’re going to learn from it, move on, and I’m not going to make that mistake again.”

Antonio Pierce isn’t impressed with his options

Following the Cowboys game, Pierce didn’t exactly give a ringing endorsement of Minshew earning the starting job:

“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.”

Pierce wanted the Raiders to take a quarterback in April’s draft. Pierce is covering his butt by signaling to the front office that he’s coaching a team that doesn’t have a competent quarterback.

Earlier in the preseason, Pierce talked about Minshew’s strengths. He called Minshew a “savvy” player:

Gardner is really savvy, does a good job of controlling, has poise, feels things around him, good feel in the pocket. Obviously, when the play breaks down, he’s really good at [extending plays].”

Raiders fans react to Gardner Minshew getting the Week 1 start

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