A day after a stunning home loss to the Carolina Panthers, it appears that changes are afoot for the Las Vegas Raiders roster on both sides of the table, including at the quarterback position.
Head coach Antonio Pierce on Sunday lamented what he described as the “business decisions” made by players on the field and vowed that the coaching staff would also make “business decisions.”
Asked to elaborate on those comments at his Monday press conference, he declined to name names but criticized the “whole defensive effort” in the 36-22 loss.
He was then asked if starting quarterback Gardner Minshew is “still the guy.” Here’s his response:
“I think we have to talk to the players first and evaluate everything from yesterday,” Pierce said.
That was the final question and answer of his press conference. Pierce did not criticize Minshew’s play, saying instead that the offense “has to do a better job on early downs and make it easier for him on third down.”
But when given the chance, Pierce refused to confirm Minshew will be the starter, opening the door for more unrest in Las Vegas a day after one of the NFL’s worst losses of the season.
Is Minshew’s job really at stake?
Minshew completed 18 of 28 passes against Carolina for 214 yards with one touchdown and one interception. With the Raiders down 36-15 and the game out of reach late in the fourth quarter, Pierce replaced Minshew with reserve and 2023 starter Aidan O’Connell. Minshew’s final pass was an interception early in the fourth quarter with the Raiders trailing by 18.
O’Connell led the Raiders on a 13-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a touchdown pass to Tre Tucker. He completed 9 of 12 passes for 82 yards and the score.
When asked what he saw from O’Connell and whether it gave him “any reservations going forward,” Pierce said:
“Look how the game went — we’re down two scores or something,” Pierce said. “Let Aidan come in and see what he can do with the offense, move it around. We’re just trying to find a spark.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Monday night that Minshew will remain the starting quarterback. At least for now.
About those ‘business decisions’
As for the promised “business decisions,” Pierce told reporters he was “not biting his tongue” and that he and his staff had not yet made them.
“We don’t have that,” Pierce said. “We have to talk to the players first.”
And what might those business decisions look like?
“Whatever helps the Raiders win,” Pierce continued. “That performance is not going to help any team win. Let alone the Raiders.”
The Raiders are now 1-2 with Sunday’s loss after an upset of the Ravens in Baltimore in Week 2 with Minshew at quarterback. The wheels of the season are in danger of falling off for a slate of games against the Browns, Broncos, Steelers, Rams, Chiefs and Bengals.
Pierce was asked specifically on Monday what he can do better after Sunday’s loss.
“We talked about it,” Pierce said. “We saw that there could be a misstep in a game like this, where you’re coming off a high against the Ravens and you’re going against a team that everybody expects you to beat. …
“Looking back, I think we all, myself and the staff, did a good job.”
Then he took a long pause.
“It just has to be better.”
