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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell looks at the scoreboard after throwing an incomplete pass in the second half of an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Raiders return to Aidan O'Connell as starting QB against the Steelers, benching Gardner Minshew

Antonio Pierce's first major act after becoming the Las Vegas Raiders’ interim coach midway through last season was naming then-rookie Aidan O’Connell the starting quarterback

By MARK ANDERSON
Published - Oct 09, 2024, 08:06 PM ET
Last Updated - Dec 16, 2024, 06:28 PM EST

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — When Antonio Pierce became the Raiders' interim coach midway through last season, his first major act was naming then-rookie Aidan O'Connell the starting quarterback.

Pierce, now the full-time Las Vegas coach, is turning again to O'Connell as the Raiders reach a critical part of their season while benching Gardner Minshew with the Pittsburgh Steelers visiting on Sunday.

O'Connell went 5-4 after he became the starter last season. Pierce said Wednesday he has seen the QB grow in confidence and become more vocal.

“He has a certain presence about himself,” Pierce said. “I love how he walks around the building, but really what I respect most is when we named Gardner the starter, he was like, ‘All right, I’ll be the best scout-team quarterback possible.' He was lighting our (behind) up, and every day he gave us the best look."

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