The Las Vegas Raiders made a change under center on Sunday in a divisional matchup at the Broncos.
After watching Gardner Minshew struggle in their Week 5 game in Denver, the Raiders benched their $25 million offseason addition in favor of second-year backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell.
Raiders Bench Gardner Minshew, Roll With Backup QB Aidan O’Connell in Week 5
Minshew completed 12 of 17 passes for 137 yards and a touchdown but threw two interceptions before the Raiders benched him near the end of the third quarter. Las Vegas was trailing 20-10 when head coach Antonio Pierce made the switch to O’Connell.
Minshew had just tossed his second pick of the day, a vertical shot down the right sideline that was intercepted by Broncos cornerback Riley Moss.
Gardner Minshew has been benched for Aidan O'Connell after his last drive ended with this interception, his 2nd on the day.pic.twitter.com/amrhyMOZ5G
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 6, 2024
Minshew’s first turnover was far more costly. Denver All-Pro CB Patrick Surtain II intercepted him on a 1st-and-goal attempt from the Broncos’ 5-yard line. Surtain returned the pick 100 yards for a defensive touchdown and a 14-point swing.
In training camp, Minshew seemed to win the Raiders’ starting quarterback gig over O’Connell by default. Las Vegas gave Minshew a two-year, $25 million deal with $15 million guaranteed this offseason, giving him a leg up on the 2023 fourth-round pick from the jump.
After taking over for the injured Anthony Richardson last season, Minshew nearly guided the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs. He went 7-6 in his starts, tossed 15 touchdowns against nine interceptions, ranked 13th in QBR (59.6), and made the Pro Bowl.
But Minshew has struggled to maintain that kind of consistency without Colts head coach/offensive play-caller Shane Steichen in his ear. He ranks just 28th in QBR (40.4) this season; only Caleb Williams, Will Levis, and Deshaun Watson had been less productive through four games.
It’s not as if O’Connell lit the world on fire during training camp and the preseason. Still, he came into a difficult situation last season as a mid-round rookie starter for a Las Vegas team that had just fired its head coach.
Given the circumstances, O’Connell was decent, showing an ability to navigate the pocket and a willingness to push the ball downfield. He completed 62.1% of his passes for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, finishing 5-5 in his 10 Raiders starts.
After taking over for Minshew in Week 5, O’Connell completed 10 of 20 passes for 94 yards and an interception while taking one sack.
In his postgame remarks, Pierce declined to name a starting quarterback for the Raiders’ Week 6 matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Either Minshew or O’Connell will have a difficult road ahead with not only the Steelers on deck, but games at the Rams, vs. the Chiefs, and at Bengals before their bye. Additionally, Las Vegas is poised to lose its best player as soon as this week as Davante Adams is poised to be traded.
From @GMFB: #Jets QB Aaron Rodgers has an extra day to recover from his low-ankle sprain, but will he have a new star WR by Monday Night Football? pic.twitter.com/nTSTPnnN3q
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 7, 2024
The only silver lining that LV signal callers can point to is the emergence of first round rookie TE Brock Bowers. At a time in the NFL where the position has seemingly taken a step back, Bowers has taken a leap forward. He led the team on Sunday with eight catches on 12 targets for 97 yards and a touchdown. Bowers should officially become the focal point of the offense once the Adams deal is completed.
GTh
Fantasy Implications from Minshew’s Benching
When Minshew won the Raiders’ starting job out of the preseason, most people assumed O’Connell would eventually make starts. It appears that will begin next week.
We’ve seen this offense with O’Connell. He started the second half of last season…and it wasn’t pretty.
Brock Bowers has been arguably the best tight end in fantasy with Minshew throwing him passes. I’m not overly concerned about his production dipping by any meaningful amount with AOC under center. Jakobi Meyers should be just fine as well.
As for the impact on Davante Adams, we’ve likely seen the veteran wide receiver’s final snap as a Raider. But if Adams does play, he will be a mid-WR2 like he was last year with O’Connell.
This move will not impact Alexander Mattison, who should remain the starter even when Zamir White returns.
— PFN Fantasy Analyst Jason Katz
