The Las Vegas Raiders named second-year player Aidan O’Connell their starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
O’Connell replaces Gardner Minshew, who started the first five games. The Raiders (2-3) benched Minshew mid-game last week, calling on O’Connell in the 34-18 loss to the Denver Broncos.
“It was a quarterback battle early on. (Minshew) started five games, and at this point, I think it’s best to go with Aidan going forward,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Wednesday.
Minshew tossed two interceptions against the Broncos — including a 100-yard pick-six — and has five on the season against four touchdown passes. He’s completing 70.1 percent of his passes for 1,014 yards.
O’Connell was 10-for-20 with 94 yards and an INT against the Broncos.
O’Connell, 26, started 10 games for the Raiders last season as a rookie, passing for 2,218 yards and 12 TDs against seven interceptions. He went 5-5. He threw for 9,219 yards and 65 TDs in four seasons at Purdue before the Raiders selected him in the fourth round of the 2023 draft.
Minshew, 28, signed a two-year contract worth $25 million — including $15 million guaranteed — with the Raiders in March. Pierce said Minshew handled the news “like a pro.”