After what seemed to be a competitive battle between veteran quarterback Gardner Minshew and second-year man Aidan O’Connell, head coach Antonio Pierce has made a decision on who will be the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders heading into the 2024 NFL season.
Although it seemed to be a close competition between these two signal-callers, in the end, Minshew was named the starter. He appears to have proven to Pierce and his coaching staff that he’s the right man for the job under center for the time being. Even though this could quickly change with a few poor performances during the upcoming regular season, Minshew is the Raiders’ guy to lead this team moving forward.
After officially being named the starter earlier this week, Minshew spoke to the media in a press conference in Las Vegas and shared his reaction to the news that he has beaten out O’Connell to be the starter for Las Vegas come Week 1 against the division-rival Los Angeles Chargers in Week 1 on the road at SoFi Stadium.
#Raiders QB Gardner Minshew on winning the starting job: "Super excited. … I couldn't be more grateful. Excited. I'm excited for this team and what we have in front of us. I think everybody in this locker room feels how special we can be."
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardNFL) August 21, 2024
Although many questions are swirling about whether Minshew can handle the starting job, the veteran coming off a Pro Bowl season with the Indianapolis Colts will have no shortage of offensive weapons at his disposal during the 2024 campaign. Las Vegas may not be making a lot of headlines for their offensive talent, with the defensive and superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby getting the bulk of the attention, but the Raiders have an opportunity to be a force to be reckoned with offensively.
Along with having one of the best wide receivers in the game to throw to with veteran Davante Adams, Minshew will also have two solid tight ends in Michael Mayer and rookie Brock Bowers, as well as wideouts Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker. Las Vegas may also have a decent ground attack, with second-year running back Zamir White looking to prove himself while taking over for Josh Jacobs.
Despite not getting much attention heading into the regular season, the Raiders have the potential to make some noise in the AFC, and Minshew is embracing that opportunity while also falling in love with the diehard fans of the storied franchise.
Gardner Minshew on #Raiders fans and Raiders Nation: "It's legit, man. These people are the real deal."
— Ryan Ward (@RyanWardNFL) August 21, 2024
Unfortunately for the Raiders, the team will have to start the season on the road with two tough matchups before playing their first game of the season at Allegiant Stadium against the visiting Carolina Panthers in Week 3. Pierce’s squad will have to take on the Chargers on September 8, followed by an incredibly challenging matchup on the road against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2 at M&T Bank Stadium on September 15.
Kolton Miller Expected to Return Soon
One of the biggest concerns for the Las Vegas Raiders with the start of the regular season drawing near is not having left tackle Kolton Miller healthy and ready to go, but that appears to be changing, as he will soon get back on the practice field.
Obviously, this is a great sign for Antonio Pierce and company while also giving new starting quarterback Gardner Minshew some added protection upfront as he begins his stint with Las Vegas.
