Minshew Mania Returns: Las Vegas Raiders Name Gardner Minshew as Starting Quarterback for 2024 Season
In a move that has sent shockwaves through the NFL, the Las Vegas Raiders have named Gardner Minshew as their starting quarterback for the upcoming 2024 season. The 28-year-old quarterback won the starting job over second-year QB Aidan O’Connell, according to Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce.
Minshew signed a two-year deal with the Raiders in March and has been impressing coaches with his performance in preseason games. In one of the two preseason games he started, Minshew threw for 117 yards and a touchdown in the 24-23 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.
Pierce announced the decision on Sunday, stating that Minshew gives the team the best opportunity to get off to a fast start. “Myself, [general manager Tom] Telesco and [offensive coordinator] Luke Getsy discussed it this morning,” Pierce said. “A lot of things went into it. It wasn’t based off of last night. There’s a lot of factors. We feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to get off to a fast start.”
Minshew rose to prominence in 2019, when he started 12 games during his rookie year with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He threw for 21 touchdowns that season, breaking a rookie franchise record. Minshew played in Jacksonville for two seasons, before spending two with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The mustachioed play-caller spent last season with the Indianapolis Colts, starting 13 games and playing in 17. He threw for a career-high 3,305 yards and 15 touchdowns with a 62.2% completion percentage; however, he was also sacked 34 times and threw nine interceptions.
O’Connell, meanwhile, will return to being the Raiders’ backup. The 25-year-old started last season as QB2, but took over partway through the year after Jimmy Garoppolo was injured. He started 10 games in total during that rookie season.
With Minshew at the helm, the Raiders are looking to make a strong push in the upcoming season. Will they be able to capitalize on Minshew’s talent and experience? Only time will tell.
