The Las Vegas Raiders took the field for the first time this preseason, coming up just short to the Minnesota Vikings 24-23 thanks to a Will Reichard field goal as time expired. However, for the Raiders and head coach Antonio Pierce, much of the focus will go toward the quarterback battle between Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew.
Both played a quarter in the preseason opener, with O’Connell completing 7-of-9 passes for 76 yards and leading the Raiders to a field goal in his lone drive. Minshew completed 6-of-12 passes for 117 yards and a touchdown and led three straight scoring drives in the second quarter with two touchdowns and a field goal overall.
Minshew and O’Connell each had their moments, and the competition isn’t over yet, though the plan is for the Raiders to name their starter soon. Pierce spoke after the game, saying he hopes to make a decision following the team’s second preseason game this Saturday, via Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
“The goal will be to hopefully make a decision after the game this Saturday,” Pierce said. “We have to get ready to play football. We have enough film and we’ll have two games to evaluate both quarterbacks to see how they’ll play.”
Pierce would continue, offering praise to both O’Connell and Minshew and expressing confidence in either to give the Raiders what they need from the quarterback position:
“Aidan had nine attempts and Gardner had 12,” Pierce said. “You’d like the numbers to be equal, but they weren’t. I thought both guys were efficient. I thought there were some opportunities down the field Minshew made that were good. When it’s a clean pocket, you can see what this offense can be with both guys.”
Both O’Connell and Minshew have their positives and negatives, which have been on display throughout training camp and in the preseason opener. Pierce and the Raiders staff will have to evaluate everything in deciding on the right guy, and this second preseason game against the Dallas Cowboys will be crucial.
As Pierce said, hopefully, things will be equal in terms of opportunity for O’Connell and Minshew, but the Raiders will have seen enough to make their final decision and move forward from there.
Raiders’ Gardner Minshew and Aidan O’Connell building genuine camaraderie despite competition
Even though Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew are battling to be the Raiders’ starting quarterback, there is no animosity between them. In fact, it is quite the opposite, as the two seem to be building a genuine connection despite this ongoing competition.
Minshew and O’Connell even joked around a bit during a recent interview, with Minshew jokingly saying he hates his fellow quarterback, but O’Connell immediately squashed it as obviously an act. Minshew would go on to note that the camaraderie throughout the Raiders locker room is something he hasn’t seen often around the league.
