The NFL season is chock full of ups and downs. Just ask the Raiders.
After Week 2, Las Vegas was flying high. A last-minute field goal by kicker Daniel Carlson gave the Raiders a stunning victory over the Ravens on the road, improving to 1-1 on the season. "Minshew Mania" was once again sweeping the nation, as Gardner Minshew helped orchestrate the comeback win.
One week later, the Raiders have a lot of self-reflection to do.
Head coach Antonio Pierce and his Raiders are on the other end of an upset, falling 36-22 at home against the Panthers, giving Carolina its first win of the season. Minshew and Co. looked far from the team that went into M&T Bank Stadium and knocked off Lamar Jackson and Baltimore, falling to a team widely regarded as the worst in the league.
Pierce didn't hold back criticism of his team, blasting certain individuals for making "business decisions." It's unclear exactly who he was calling out, but it's enough to put the entire team on notice.
Even though it's only one loss, it could have a ripple effect as Las Vegas looks ahead to a Week 4 matchup against the Browns. Changes may be on the horizon in Sin City — and there's a possibility it starts at quarterback.
Here is a look at the QB room for the Raiders.
WEEK 4 FANTASY RANKINGS
QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers
Who is the Raiders' starting QB for Week 4?
As of now, Minshew is still in line to be the starter — but things can change quickly.
Pierce told reporters on Monday that he "won't rule out" a change at quarterback. It comes on the heels of the disappointing loss to the Panthers.
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters that he’s not ruling out a quarterback change this week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 23, 2024
Minshew was hardly the only one to blame for the loss; however, it wasn't his best performance.
The QB was 18 for 28 for 214 yards, a touchdown and a pick before Aidan O'Connell came in for the final offensive possession. O'Connell drove down the field on the last drive, resulting in a touchdown, but the game was already out of hand at that point.
POWER RANKINGS: Raiders nearly bottom out after Panthers loss
Raiders QB depth chart
| Rank | QB |
| No. 1 | Gardner Minshew |
| No. 2 | Aidan O'Connell |
| No. 3 | Carter Bradley — Practice squad |
No. 1. Gardner Minshew
Until Pierce says otherwise, Minshew remains the starting quarterback of the Raiders. The journeyman is in his first season in Las Vegas after spending the 2023 season with Indianapolis.
Minshew is on his fourth team in a span of six seasons, as he is right on the cusp of being a below-average NFL starter and high-end backup quarterback. He earned the starting role over O'Connell in training camp but could very soon find himself on the sidelines during game action.
Through three games, Minshew has completed 73.7 percent of his passes for 747 yards and three touchdowns, but he also has thrown three picks.
No. 2. Aidan O'Connell
If Pierce is not liking what he's seeing out of Minshew, O'Connell would be the next man up. The young QB is in his second year with the Raiders organization after Las Vegas drafted him in the fourth round in 2023.
The start of this season may feel like deja vu for O'Connell followers. Once again, the Purdue product began a campaign sitting behind a veteran. He was QB2 last year with Jimmy Garoppolo getting the start, but O'Connell soon took over as QB1, playing in 11 games for the Raiders. He completed 213 of his 343 attempts for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
He may do the same if Minshew is not living up to the standards set by Pierce and the Raiders coaching staff. O'Connell came in relief of Minshew in Week 3, completing nine of 12 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.
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No. 3 Carter Bradley
Bradley is currently on the practice squad for Las Vegas, so it's likely he would only see action if injuries ripped through the QB room. The rookie signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent. He played for four years at Toledo before ending his college career with two seasons at South Alabama.
