The Las Vegas Raiders have had some uncertainty in several phases of their team during an up-and-down 2023 season. They are already working with an interim head coach in Antonio Pierce and have struggled to find consistency at the quarterback position.
Jimmy Garoppolo, Aidan O’Connell and Brian Hoyer have all started at least one game for the Raiders. And while O’Connell is currently the starter, a poor performance against the Miami Dolphins in Week 11 has already begun conversations of the Raiders looking toward the future.
O’Connell was 24-for-41 with 271 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in the losing effort. And after the game, Pierce had an opportunity to stand behind the young QB, but chose to take a different and more neutral approach, via Mark Anderson of Associated Press:
“We have six more games left, so we’ll find out in six more,” Pierce said Monday. “And then we’ll see what happens with AP in 2024.”
“We didn’t lose the game because of Aidan,” Pierce said Monday. “Let’s get that straight. But Aidan does know he needs to care of the ball. That’s the quarterback’s No. 1 job, and we’ll get better at that.”
Between Garoppolo’s injury and poor performance, O’Connell’s inconsistency, and a lack of any high draft picks to replenish the QB room in Las Vegas, it could be some difficult times ahead as the team assesses their future at the game’s most important position.
O’Connell will likely have a few more chances to prove himself to the Raiders organization, and if he can’t, the Raiders will have some work to do in the offseason.
Raiders stars expecting more from tight end Michael Mayer
When the Las Vegas Raiders need a big play they have two of the best players in the league at their respective positions to turn to in receiver Davante Adams and running back Josh Jacobs. But last Sunday night against the Jets, rookie tight end Michael Mayer came up with the biggest play of the game.
Mayer skied over Jets safety Jordan Whitehead to haul in the only touchdown of the game to give the Raiders a fourth-quarter lead that they would hold on to for their second straight win.
It was the first career touchdown catch for Mayer whom the Raiders took in the second round of the NFL Draft, and he made it a memorable one. But just as important for him was the fact that it led to a Raiders win:
“It’s special,” Mayer said. “It’s my first one in the league. … Hopefully, many, many more to come and it’s a really special thing to be able to do that for my teammates, do that for my coaches, do that for … this organization’s been through a lot the past couple of weeks this season, last season, and feels good to come out with a ‘W.’”
