For the third consecutive season, the Raiders have a different Week 1 starting quarterback than the year prior.
Las Vegas was one of a few teams without a bonafide QB1 heading into the 2024 season. The team was unable to land a quarterback in the first round of the draft, so the club elected to roll with a QB room consisting of Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew.
After two weeks of preseason football, Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce did not give either a true stamp of approval. In a 27-12 preseason loss to the Cowboys, neither O'Connell (14-for-20, 96 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT) nor Minshew (10-for-21, 95 yards) impressed, giving him much to think about.
"I wish it had ended well for both gentlemen, and it just didn’t," Pierce said after the Raiders' Week 2 preseason loss to the Cowboys.
Pierce has since made up his mind. Here is who Las Vegas is going with in Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season.
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Raiders QB depth chart
Gardner Minshew is the Raiders' starting quarterback to begin the season.
The free agent signing spent last season as the Colts' starting quarterback. He originally signed with the expectation that he would backup rookie QB Anthony Richardson, but injuries kept the Florida product sidelined, giving Minshew control of the offense. He enjoyed a career year, completing 305 of his 490 attempts for 3,305 yards, including 15 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
| Team | QB1 | QB2 | QB3 | QB4 |
| Raiders | Gardner Minshew | Aidan O'Connell | Carter Bradley | Nathan Peterman |
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After Minshew, it's the youngster Aidan O'Connell. Once again, the Purdue product sits behind a veteran to kick off the campaign. He was QB2 last year with Jimmy Garoppolo getting the start, but O'Connell soon took over as QB1, playing in 11 games for the Raiders. He completed 213 of his 343 attempts for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
In addition to Minshew and O'Connell, Las Vegas also has Carter Bradley. and Nathan Peterman on the roster. Bradley is an undrafted free agent that signed with the team out of South Alabama. He also played for three years at Toledo. Peterman is a journeyman who makes his second stint with the team after spending 2023 with the Bears.
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The Raiders open the season in Los Angeles against the Chargers in Week 1.