Raiders quarterback: Don’t be surprised if Aidan O’Connell starts games this season

Gardner Minshew is the starting quarterback but the QB battle was almost a draw

The decision is in the books: Gardner Minshew is the Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback.

Citing the experience advantage and ability to run the operation and process the veteran signal caller possesses over second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell, head coach Antonio Pierce announced the choice to start Minshew shortly after Las Vegas’ second preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys.

“Experience, the operation, the processing. The same thing we saw in practice, some of it showed up in the games,” Pierce specifically said during his press conference on August 18 on the call to go with Minshew. “A lot of stuff we can get better at. I don’t think anything here is a finished product but based off the first quarter of the season, we feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity.”

First quarter of the season?

That’s the Week 1-4 slate that sees the Raiders:

• At the Los Angeles Chargers
• At the Baltimore Ravens
• Versus the Carolina Panthers
• Versus the Cleveland Browns

Two road trips followed by two home games inside Allegiant Stadium — that should give us good insight on the Minshewmania offense. But that mention of “first quarter” of the season was an interesting one from Pierce. And it led to a follow-up question about getting off to a quick start in the first four games: Is there a short leash for Minshew and why did the coach phrase it that way?

“I do everything in sections. I mean, you’re going to get the whole season. We want to get off to a fast start. want to, right? Got two games on the road, two at home, that’s the first quarter of the season for us,” Pierce said.

While he didn’t answer the short leash portion of the inquiry specifically, it’s not out of question that slow start from the Raiders offense with Minshew at the helm results in a pivot to O’Connell. Thus, don’t be surprised if AOC starts games this season for Las Vegas.

The offseason and preseason quarterback battle was almost a draw — which isn’t the most encouraging sign out of the gate, but someone had to win the gig.

“They both took it on the chin like a champ. And I told them, just both be ready. It’s the National Football League, you never know,” Pierce said. “But Aidan is a young player that has a tremendous upside that I think will still be a starter some point here in this league, if it’s this year or next year.

“But he will play in games, and I think Gardner’s done a good job of being that older presence you know, because he’s played a couple years in league and he’s been through some adversities, so that’s been good for Aidan.”

Despite not winning the starting role, O’Connell is afforded the opportunity to get a prime view of the Raiders offense with Minshew at the helm. The soon-to-be 26-year old gets to see the offense’s success and shortcomings from the sideline and can learn while remaining prepped to step up if anything happens.

The following four weeks after the first four games will be grueling as it starts with a trip to the Denver Broncos, hosting the Pittsburgh Steelers, at the Los Angeles Rams, and hosting the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs. Las Vegas hits the road again after that to face the Cincinnati Bengals before its Week 10 bye.

And depending on the Raiders’ record then, that hiatus may be time for a QB change — if it hasn’t happened before then. Or, perhaps, Minshew Magic has the Raiders with a winning record heading into the bye.

We’re two weeks out from that season opening clash at SoFi Stadium against the Bolts — and to be perfectly honest, that can be considered a “home” game for the Silver & Black — and Pierce did note what he wants to see out of his starter moving forward.

“Yeah, well, one, his personality is affectionate, his image is affectionate, his leadership is affectionate. Things of improvement, footwork in the pocket, staying on script,” the coach said. “There’s some magic about him when he does break the pocket and does his thing, but there’s a lot of times where if the first or second read is there, we got to let it rip. So, he understands that, and more importantly taking care of the football.”

Neither quarterback took care of the ball very well in practices and preseason games with O’Connell’s final preseason throw being a pick six against the Cowboys. But we’ll get to see if that changes when games count.