Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters Sunday that Gardner Minshew II will be the team's starter for the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers (per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network).
Minshew, who signed with the Raiders as a free agent this offseason, prevailed in the Raiders' quarterback competition against second-year QB Aidan O’Connell, who finished his rookie campaign as the team's starter over the last nine games. O'Connell finished last season as the Raiders' starting quarterback, bringing the Raiders to a 5-5 record when Pierce was the team's interim coach.
Minshew has started 37 games in his five NFL seasons, including 13 last season for the Colts, when he filled in for an injured Anthony Richardson and had Indianapolis in playoff contention until the final week of the regular season. In two preseason games (including Las Vegas' Week 2 loss against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday night) Minshew completed 16 of 33 passes for 212 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions.
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