NFL coach teases quarterback change after shock loss
One of the NFL coaches is considering a quarterback change after a shocking loss last weekend.
On Monday, Adam Schefter reported that Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce is not ruling out a quarterback change this week after the loss to the struggling Carolina Panthers.
The margin wasn’t small, considering Pierce’s team fell to a lesser opponent on paper. The 36-22 loss to Carolina may prompt the Raiders coach to dig into his depth chart for Week 4.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew completed 18 of 28 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown. He was sacked twice and intercepted once.
Before Sunday’s game, Minshew completed 30 of 38 passes for 276 yards and a touchdown in a 26-23 win over Baltimore. However, he was intercepted once and sacked five times in the game.
Antonio Pierce reportedly not ruling out a quarterback change after loss to the Panthers
Raiders QB Gardner Minshew completed 18 of 28 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown
During the Raiders’ 22-10 loss to the Chargers on Opening Day, Minshew was sacked four times and intercepted once despite completing 25 of 33 attempts for 257 yards and a touchdown.
The only available quarterback for Pierce is sophomore Aidan O’Connell.
The Purdue product played in 11 games last season, completing 213 of 343 attempts for 12 touchdowns. He had 12 interceptions and 24 sacks.
Still, O’Connell impressed Pierce when he took the field Sunday. The second-string quarterback made the most of his minutes, completing nine of 12 attempts for 82 yards and a touchdown. What’s more, O’Connell was sacked just once.
Aidan O’Connell impressed by completing nine of 12 attempts for 82 yards and a TD
If they go through with the decision, the Raiders wouldn’t be the first team to make quarterback changes early in the season.
The Panthers traded last year’s No. 1 overall pick Bryce Young for veteran Andy Dalton after the Panthers were 0-2 to start. The move worked to Carolina’s advantage, which scored its first win over Las Vegas.
The Raiders close out September with a Week 4 game against the Cleveland Browns on September 29.