The Las Vegas Raiders were scheduled to hold their final practice of mandatory minicamp on Thursday, but the team has decided not to do so.
Head coach Antonio Pierce confirmed the cancellation, saying that it's a reward for the players for their hard work this offseason. So, the next time we'll see the Raiders on the practice field will be in late July, when training camp begins.
"Productive," Pierce said when asked for his thoughts on the Raiders' offseason work. "What is our true identity? We'll figure that out in pads."
While the defense shined during the Raiders' offseason program, the offense had no shortage of struggles. Part of that can be blamed on installing a new offense and the fact that Las Vegas' defense is a tough nut to crack.
#Raiders coach Antonio Pierce on the tandem of Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins at practice
— Jesse Merrick (@JesseNews3LV) June 13, 2024
"We're seeing two alpha competitors compete at everything"
Mentioned when he first got here it was a Maxx Crosby fan club and now he's got a guy to push him just as much in Wilkins
Still, the issues under center won't instill much confidence in either Gardner Minshew or Aidan O'Connell ahead of the 2024 campaign. Hopefully one of the two can really emerge when the pads come on next month.
Pierce said that offensive coordinator Luke Getsy threw the whole playbook at the unit this spring, but things will be simplified a bit in training camp.
#Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Luke Getsy and the offensive staff threw the whole playbook at the team in their offseason sessions and when they reconvene for training camp they'll pare it down and hone in on their true identity as an offense
— Jesse Merrick (@JesseNews3LV) June 13, 2024
"I think they embraced the competition and I think the best part about it is it's a friendly competition," Pierce said of the quarterback battle.
With neither quarterback really standing out so far this offseason, the battle will go on in training camp, and quite possibly through the preseason. The competition will easily be the biggest story line moving foward.
