Antonio Pierce refuses to rule Aidan O’Connell out of Raiders’ starting QB job despite Gardner Minshew’s arrival

Aidan O'Connell played in 11 games last season.

Antonio Pierce refuses to rule Aidan O’Connell out of Raiders’ starting QB job despite Gardner Minshew’s arrival

Antonio Pierce and Aidan O'Connell (via Imago)

After the mid-season departure of the head coach Josh McDaniels in 2023, Antonio Pierce took charge of the Las Vegas Raiders. Under his guidance, the Raiders got a new identity. Despite missing out on the playoffs, the team played their last leg of the season positively. For the upcoming season, the team is already considered a black horse.

However, a new debate has emerged ahead of the start of the team’s season. The Las Vegas team recently drafted Gardner Minshew, giving rise to the question of ‘Who will be the starter in 204?’.

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However, the new ‘full-time’ coach has no plans to change their starting quarterback from the previous season, even with Minshew’s entry. Last season, it was Aidan O’Connell who took the reins at the tail end of the 2023 season. Despite drafting Minshew, the Las Vegas Raiders HC has claimed that O’Connell would be their starter again. 

At the end of the day, listen, Aidan O’Connell played his a** off. He did a helluva job for us--You’re talking about a kid that has the mental toughness to play in the National Football League. Whatever happens and whatever we do it has to go through Aidan O’Connell. Being honest with you because he’s earned that right.

Pierce stated during an interview with NFL Network’s Steve Wyche at the Annual League Meeting on Sunday.

Last season, O’Connell played in 11 games and had a decent impact to help the team maintain a 5-6 record to close the year. In the 11 outings, the rookie quarterback had 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. His performance was better than Jimmy Garoppolo‘s, who played seven games and threw seven touchdowns against nine interceptions.

Pierce has strong faith in the team’s GM to make the right choices

The team got Minshew for a deal worth $25 million for two years. It was expected that the team would place Minshew as the first-choice quarterback. However, Pierce, it seems, will be going against the general notion and believes GM Tom Telesco will back him. 

I got Tom Telesco (as general manager)--Got the magician. (I'll) figure out what he's got up his sleeve. He's done it for a long time. I got a lot of trust in him. ... (He) knows something about quarterbacks. So I'm going to let him figure it out.
Pierce added
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Antonio Pierce press conference (Image via X/Dov Kleiman)

After taking charge, Pierce has enjoyed good support in the team. All the senior players have backed him. It is to be seen whether he manages to take the Raiders to the playoffs this time around. They will face the Kansas City Chiefs twice in the league and the HC is already making plans to give a surprise to the defending champions.

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