In a 3-0 loss to the Vikings in Week 14, Aidan O’Connell had one of his worst games. Afterward, interim head coach Antonio Pierce was noncommittal about O’Connell starting again when the Chargers come to town on a short week, saying he would be evaluating everything.
On Wednesday, he was still reserving judgment until after practice.
“I’ve never said Aidan wasn’t the starter. Let’s say that first and
foremost,” said Pierce, noting that one bad performance wasn’t going to be the basis for his decision.
“We’re still evaluating. If there’s a chance to get better, a chance to improve, a chance to put us in position to win, then we have to get all the factors that go into it. … We’re going to do whatever it takes to put ourselves in position to win. And after today, we’ll have a better answer this evening.”
The evening is here, and Pierce has opted to stick with O’Connell, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Despite Raiders’ HC Antonio Pierce being noncommittal about which QB would start Thursday night vs. the Chargers, rookie QB Aidan O’Connell is expected to remain the starter for this week’s game, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 13, 2023
With four games remaining and the Raiders sitting at 5-8, there wouldn’t be a whole lot to gain by making a change at quarterback. It’s probably best to play out the season and get a good look at some young players along the way.
Even if seeing Khalil Mack across the line — he sacked O’Connell six times in their previous meeting — might cause some PTSD for the young QB.