In a surprising turn of events, head coach Antonio Pierce announced on Sunday that Gardner Minshew will be the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders in the upcoming 2024 regular season. This decision came after evaluating Minshew's performance in the preseason games and observing his infectious energy and leadership on and off the field.

The 2024 NFL Draft made history with a record-breaking six quarterbacks selected in the first 12 picks, leaving the Raiders with pick number 13 in a tough position. Following a thorough offseason program and two preseason games, Coach Pierce had to choose between the experienced journeyman Gardner Minshew and the 2023 fourth-round pick Aidan O'Connell.

After the Raiders' home game against the Dallas Cowboys, which ended in a 27-12 defeat for Las Vegas, Coach Pierce made the call to name Minshew as the starting quarterback. This decision was based on Minshew's experience and his consistent performance in practice and games.

Speaking about his choice, Coach Pierce highlighted Minshew's infectious personality, energy, and leadership qualities. Although Minshew has shown improvement in areas like footwork in the pocket and sticking to the game plan, Coach Pierce emphasized the importance of Minshew capitalizing on his early reads and taking care of the football.

During the preseason game against Dallas, Minshew played four drives, resulting in a turnover on downs, a made field goal, a punt, and another turnover on downs. He completed 10 of 21 passes for a total of 95 yards. On the other hand, Aidan O'Connell took over in the second quarter and led four possessions, which concluded with a field goal, a punt, a touchdown pass to tight end Harrison Bryant, and an interception return touchdown for the Cowboys.

Although O'Connell's touchdown pass showcased his potential, Coach Pierce weighed the impact of his 69-yard interception return touchdown against him. As a defensive-minded coach, Pierce emphasized the need to consider both the good and the bad in the evaluation process.

Both Minshew and O'Connell had equal opportunities in terms of attempts, with O'Connell throwing 20 times and Minshew attempting 21 passes. Coach Pierce acknowledged the balanced assessment but stressed the need to thoroughly evaluate their performances before finalizing the decision.

With this announcement, Gardner Minshew will lead the Raiders' offense as they approach the 2024 regular season. His experience and contagious energy will be valuable assets for the team as they strive for success in the highly competitive NFL. The Raiders and their fans are eager to see how Minshew will thrive in his new role.