HENDERSON, Nev. — Gardner Minshew will remain the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback for the team's home game Sunday against the Cleveland Browns, a team source confirmed. «Nothing was ever pondered,» the source said, regarding a potential switch.
The news was first reported by NFL Network. This comes a day after Raiders coach Antonio Pierce was noncommittal on Minshew remaining the starter in the wake of Aidan O'Connell coming off the bench to lead Las Vegas to a late touchdown drive in its 36-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
When Pierce was asked Monday in his weekly news conference, which was delayed more than an hour because of meetings with his staff, whether O'Connell's success meant anything or Minshew was still the starter, he said, «I think we've got to get with the players and just evaluate everything from yesterday first.» Pierce had earlier said the Raiders were looking for a «spark» from O'Connell, who took Las Vegas on a 70-yard scoring drive in 13 plays, completing 9 of 12 passes for 82 yards and finishing with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Tre Tucker.
Meanwhile, Minshew threw for 214 yards and completed 18 of 28 passes with a touchdown and an interception against Carolina. Minshew, signed to a two-year free agent contract with $15 million guaranteed by Las Vegas, beat out O'Connell in a training camp battle.