Who is the Raiders’ starting quarterback this week? Gardner Minshew benched for Aidan O’Connell vs. Steelers

The Las Vegas Raiders have many distractions. Star wide receiver Davante Adams requested a trade, and Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell are now in a midseason quarterback competition. 

The Adams trade request will handle itself, but the quarterback controversy is a recent development. O’Connell was the starter through most of 2023 but lost his starting gig after Las Vegas brought in Gardner Minshew via free agency. Minshew Mania wasn’t able to run wild with the Raiders, and the team is out to a 2-3 start to the 2024 NFL season. 

The Raiders will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 6. Head coach Antonio Pierce benched Minshew in Week 5 and said he hadn’t decided who would be the starter the following week after the game. Here are the latest updates on who is starting for the Raiders against the Steelers. 

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Who is starting for the Raiders this week? 

While Pierce said he didn’t know who would be starting for the Raiders early in the week, it didn’t take long for him to determine it. After the first practice of the week, he decided O’Connell will get the start against Pittsburgh’s defense. 

Raiders HC Antonio Pierce announced that Aidan O’Connell will start Sunday vs. Pittsburgh.

Gardner Minshew moves to the bench. pic.twitter.com/3hKBPElzO8

— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) October 9, 2024

It will be O’Connell’s first start since he led the Raiders to a 27-14 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 18 last season. 

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Why did the Raiders bench Gardner Minshew?

Las Vegas has been in the shadow of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West for the last six years. The Raiders haven’t won the AFC West since 2002 and have only made the playoffs twice in that span. Las Vegas went through a head coaching change last season, and interim head coach Antonio Pierce helped the Raiders win three of their last four games. When he was named the official head coach going into 2024, there was an expectation for a step forward for the franchise. 

Las Vegas has had a head-scratching 2024 so far. They lost to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1, but then bounced back and beat the Baltimore Ravens on the Road. The Raiders then lost to the Carolina Panthers, beat the Cleveland Browns and lost another division matchup in Week 5 to the Denver Broncos. 

Minshew couldn’t get on the same page with the rest of the offense, and something had to give. Pierce determined that Minshew was playing subpar and started the changes by promoting O’Connell. 

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Gardner Minshew career stats

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Aidan O’Connell stats

O’Connell was part of the 2023 NFL Draft class. He was overshadowed by Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Anthony Richardson, and Will Levis, but Las Vegas drafted him in the fourth round. 

Minshew was pulled from the Denver game after going 12-17 passing for 137 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. O’Connell came in off the bench and finished 10-20 passing for 94 yards with another interception. At the very least, the second-year quarterback will have all week to try and get ready for the Pittsburgh defense, but it will be a tough matchup in his first start back under center. 

Raiders schedule

If Las Vegas was going to have a successful season, they really needed to win against the Chargers and the Broncos. Losing to the Panthers is also terrible, but they can hang their hat on a win over the Ravens. The season will not get easier, though, and they have some significant games coming up, with arguably their “easier” games coming late in the year.