After going to 2-3 on the season with a 34-18 loss to the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce chose to swap quarterbacks. Pierce had previously benched Gardner Minshew, the team’s starter before the season, in favour of Aidan O’Connell twice this season.
The games were mainly out of reach on the other two occasions. Minshew has been up and down this season, but it will be O’Connell’s show in Week 6 after being chosen QB1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But with great power comes enormous responsibility, and Pierce only wants one thing from his new starter.
When asked about O’Connell’s goal, Pierce not only responded specifically, but also three times, according to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez. “Take care of the football,” Pierce instructed. “No turnovers.” No turnovers. “No turnovers.” While Pierce wasn’t referring to Minshew specifically, the former starter’s turnovers were a major concern.
Minshew completed 70.7 percent of his throws during five games, but he also threw four touchdowns and five interceptions. Aidan O’Connell’s outlook and Gardner Minshew’s turnover woes Not coincidentally, in both of O’Connell’s games this season, the quarterback change occurred on the drive immediately following Minshew’s interception.
O’Connell’s number was called during the third quarter of the Broncos game. O’Connell struggled against the Broncos, completing only 10 of 20 passes for 94 yards and one interception. His brief appearance against the Carolina Panthers in a 36-22 loss went much more smoothly.
After replacing Minshew in the fourth quarter, he went 9-for-12 for 82 yards and one touchdown. O’Connell, who the Raiders selected in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, appeared in 11 games and started ten last season. He finished 5-5 as a starter, completing 62.1% of his passes for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
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