Antonio Pierce Mum on Raiders Starting QB

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce pulled the trigger on a quarterback change during a Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos, but he won’t commit to a starter for Week 6 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Pierce pulled starter Gardner Minshew II after Minshew threw a costly pick-six on the Denver Broncos five-yard-line. Aidan O’Connell finished the game for Las Vegas, throwing for 94 yards and one interception.

“We’re still doing that (evaluating film) upstairs, currently,” Pierce said when asked about the potential Week 6 QB1 during his Monday press conference.

The Raiders hoped to capture some Minshew magic when signing the veteran QB during the offseason. Unfortunately, the mustachioed QB hasn’t delivered. He’s thrown only four touchdown passes and five interceptions through the season’s first five weeks.

Aidan O’Connell started ten games for the Raiders in 2023, throwing for 2,218 yards and 12 touchdowns. Some thought his 5-5 record as a starter gave him the inside track for QB1 in 2024, but Pierce ultimately decided to start the veteran Minshew.

A QB controversy is the latest uncertainty for the Las Vegas Raiders franchise. Star wide receiver Davonte Adams will likely be traded within the next week, with some speculation that he’ll land on the Pittsburgh Steelers roster.

Pierce won’t likely show his hand until later in the week, but he said whoever starts this week won’t have the QB1 job permanently.