The Las Vegas Raiders will be starting quarterback Aidan O’Connell on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers, coach Antonio Pierce announced Wednesday.
O’Connell replaces Gardner Minshew, who had started the Raiders’ first five games.
Minshew, who signed a two-year free agent contract with the Raiders with $15 million guaranteed, won a close training camp battle but has been inconsistent in five starts, completing 70.7% of his passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns, but with five interceptions, including a 100-yard pick-six by Pat Surtain II that changed the momentum in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.
Pierce installed O’Connell as the starter last season when he took over as interim coach and the then-rookie finished the season with a flourish: eight touchdowns and no interceptions in the team’s final four games.