Raiders coach Antonio Pierce didn’t tip his hand Sunday to indicate who is leading the team’s starting quarterback competition. But he did say when he wants to make a decision for the first time. Pierce said he hopes to name a starter after the Raiders’ second preseason game Aug.
17 against the Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium. “The goal will be to hopefully make a decision after the game this Saturday,” Pierce said. “We have to get ready to play football.
We have enough film and we’ll have two games to evaluate both quarterbacks to see how they’ll play.” Quarterbacks Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew both played in the Raiders’ preseason opener Saturday, a 24-23 road loss to the Vikings . They each received a quarter of action.
O’Connell got one drive and led the Raiders to a field goal in the first quarter. Minshew led the team to two touchdowns and a field goal in four drives in the second. Pierce said both will get a quarter again against the Cowboys, though he didn’t say which one would start this time.
“Aidan had nine attempts and Gardner had 12,” Pierce said. “You’d like the numbers to be equal, but they weren’t. I thought both guys were efficient.
I thought there were some opportunities down the field Minshew made that were good. When it’s a clean pocket, you can see what this offense can be with both guys.” Coming soon O’Connell and Minshew both didn’t have the luxury of playing with three key offensive players Saturday.
Star.