Raiders bench Gardner Minshew for Aidan OConnell in major quarterback shakeup

The Raiders are moving on from Gardner Minshew. Las Vegas head coach Antonio Pierce announced Wednesday that Aidan O’Connell will be the team’s starting quarterback in their Week 6 contest against the Steelers.“There was a quarterback battle early on,” Pierce told reporters of the decision.“At this point, I think it’s best to go with Aidan going forward … I don’t plan on making switches at any time.

When it’s time to make a switch, you make a switch.”The Raiders are switching quarterbacks after Minshew led them to a 2-3 start with 19.2 points per game, which is the 10th-fewest in the NFL.Pierce benched Minshew during the third quarter of the Raiders’ Week 5 loss to Denver in favor of O’Connell after he threw his second interception of the game, opening the door for his replacement.Minshew has thrown for 1,014 yards with four touchdown passes and five interceptions on a 70.7 percent completion rate this season.Over the offseason, Minshew signed a two-year, $25 million contract to head to Las Vegas after spending last season with the Colts.During his rookie season in 2023, O’Connell started 10 games for the Raiders, throwing for 2,218 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions, leading Las Vegas to a 5-5 record. The two quarterbacks competed for the starting spot during Raiders training camp, resulting in the veteran Minshew winning the job over the second-year signal-caller O’Connell.“A lot of things went into it,” Pierce said at the time.

“It wasn’t based off of [solely] last night.There’s a lot of factors.

So, we feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to get off to a fast start, and that’s what we’re going with.“We support him, our team’s behind it, our staff’s behind it, the organization’s behind it.”The move comes as star receiver Davante Adams has requested a trade while nursing a hamstring injury that is expected to keep him out for a third consecutive game this Sunday....