An unfortunate event marred the Las Vegas Raiders’ preseason finale, as backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffered a fractured wrist and could miss as many as eight weeks. With sixth-round rookie Cam Miller being the only other quarterback on the roster, the Raiders quickly made a move to acquire Kenny Pickett from the Cleveland Browns.
Pickett was a first-round pick of the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, but is already on his third team now in four years. He also shares some ties with legendary Raiders linebacker Phil Villapiano, as both attended Ocean Township High School in New Jersey.
And Villapiano is glad to see Pickett in the silver and black, as he gave a message to Raiders radio host JT The Brick in which he expressed his belief that Pickett has some of the traits of Hall of Famer Ken Stabler and is a great pickup for the franchise:
From the great #Raiders legend Phil Villapiano:
JT,
Kenny Pickett is the second guy to make the Pro’s from Ocean Township High School in New Jersey, I was the first.
Kenny can play, he is one of us, he has some Snake in him. When he came out of Pitt, I told him he would be a…— JT The Brick (@JTTheBrick) August 26, 2025
For Villapiano to compare Pickett to Stabler, who made four Pro Bowls, won an MVP and led the Raiders to a Super Bowl victory, says a lot. Villapiano himself was a teammate of Stabler’s, as he was also part of that 1976 Super Bowl Champion squad and made four Pro Bowls himself in nine seasons with the Raiders, so it is no minor compliment when he compares Pickett to Stabler.
To be clear, Geno Smith remains the Raiders’ starting quarterback and signed an extension this offseason that will keep him with the team through 2027, so unless an unfortunate injury occurs or Smith just badly underperforms, Pickett will remain the backup. But all it takes is one opportunity to make an impact, so if that does arise, Pickett will be ready.
Raiders reunite with veteran wide receiver Amari Cooper
The trade for Kenny Pickett wasn’t the only move the Raiders made, as they also signed former first-round pick wide receiver Amari Cooper. Of course, the Raiders originally drafted Cooper fourth overall back in 2015, but traded him to the Dallas Cowboys in 2018. But with receiver depth light behind Jakobi Meyers, who has his own issues, the Raiders have brought him back.
