The Raiders are facing a quarterback controversy after head coach Antonio Pierce wouldn’t rule out a change at the position after a stunning loss to the Panthers on Sunday.
Pierce was non-committal about who his starter would be for Week 4 after he inserted Aidan O’Connell late in the fourth quarter for Gardner Minshew, who struggled in the loss with a touchdown and an interception.
O’Connell came in and completed 9-of-12 passes for 82 yards and the touchdown pass.
When asked if the performance by the second-year quarterback meant anything, Pierce didn’t provide any sort of definitive insight.
“I think we’ve gotta get with the players and just evaluate everything from yesterday first,” he told reporters.
Pierce also said that the decision to put the young quarterback in was to try and give the offense a “spark.”
“You look at how the game went, we were down by two scores or so, we let Aidan come in and see what he could do with the offense,” Pierce said. “We’re just trying to look for a spark.”
O’Connell, who was drafted in the fourth round in 2023, started 10 games last season, throwing 213 completions for 2,218 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The Raiders have gotten off to a rough start to the season, dropping to 1-2 after Sunday’s defeat against the Panthers.
The loss prompted a rather candid response from Pierce, when he told reporters that players made “business decisions” and, in a nod to the displeasure fans showed during the home opener, he said, “I would have booed us too.”
Pierce wouldn’t elaborate on the comment Monday when asked about it.
The Raiders host the Browns in Week 4 hoping to turn the season around.