Gardner

Minshew

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport notes that Minshew “still has guaranteed money coming from” his contract with the Raiders, meaning he probably comes on an offset contract for Kansas City. This is a great spot for Minshew. The 28-year-old journeyman will get to learn from Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes before rolling the dice in free agency one year from now. We’re unsure if this is the end of teams talking themselves into Minshew as a bridge starter, but he should definitely upgrade the Chiefs’ Week 18 attack over what Carson Wentz offered this past season.

The move won’t be official until next week when free agency begins. It was a move widely expected after Minshew struggled mightily as the Vegas starter over nine games. He managed nine touchdowns to ten interceptions over those starts and eventually lost the starting gig to equally-unimpressive Aidan O’Connell. Minshew, 28, will certainly land on another roster this spring or summer and could end up starting games for another QB-desperate franchise. Only Will Levis had a lower drop back EPA than Minshew in 2024.

Reed speculates that the Raiders could cut Minshew and notes that they will free up $3 million in cap space by moving on. The Raiders could save $6 million if they used a post-June 1 designation on his release. Aidan O’Connell enters the offseason as the starter for the Raiders, but new management seems likely to add a veteran at the very least. They could do more than that by putting together a big contract for someone like Sam Darnold.

Minshew’s left shoulder was driven into the ground hard while being sacked in the Raiders’ Week 12 loss to the Broncos. Minshew finishes 2024 with 2,013 passing yards, nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions and rushed 19 times for 58 yards. He is under contract through 2025. Minshew was replaced by backup Desmond Ridder but former starter Aidan O’Connell (right thumb) could reportedly be activated from injured reserve next week.

Minshew was sacked by a trio of Denver defenders late in the fourth quarter and appeared to be in significant pain. It appeared to be a left shoulder injury for Minshew, who was helped to the locker room. He had 230 yards, a touchdown, and an interceptions before exiting the game. Desmond Ridder replaced Minshew and immediately lost a fumble to the swarming Broncos defense. Ridder would represent a major downgrade for Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers if he’s forced to start in Week 13 against the Chiefs.

We’re beginning to think we’ll never get to see Desmond Ridder waste the Raiders’ time. Minshew went for 282, two touchdowns, and one pick on Sunday against a Dolphins team that seemed pathologically unable to guard Brock Bowers. The Broncos will be a tougher test, one that likely will make Minshew a bottom-tier QB2 at best in most Week 12 rankings.

Minshew game-managed his way to two field goals and a four-point deficit at halftime. The Dolphins started to pull away and Minshew initially looked capable of keeping up with a touchdown toss to Brock Bowers. The rookie did most of the work, catching the ball near the line of scrimmage before shedding a would-be tackler en route to a 23-yard score. Still, it was a solid drive for the offense that kept them in the game. Minshew again answered the call with another touchdown throw on the team’s next drive, this one another YAC-based completion to Ameer Abdullah. This is where the magic ended as Minshew threw a brutal interception on a possible miscommunication with Jakobi Meyers late in the fourth quarter, functionally ending the game. Minshew is still the Raiders’ best bet at quarterback, but that isn’t saying much. Head coach Antonio Pierce may still turn to Desmond Ridder for Vegas’s Week 12 matchup with Denver.

Even Pierce, who is fighting for his job and is currently losing the battle, isn’t desperate enough to turn to Desmond Ridder. The Raiders haven’t won a game since September and Minshew struggled in his most recent start, throwing for 124 scoreless yards versus the Bengals before being pulled for Ridder late in the game. Minshew is the best option for the fantasy outlooks of Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers but isn’t on the QB2 radar for Week 11.

Gardner Minshew saw himself benched for the second time this season in Sunday’s loss to the Bengals. Offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who can be partly blamed for Minshew’s struggles, was dismissed following Sunday’s loss. There’s a lot for the Raiders to figure out heading into their Week 10 bye. Pierce is staring down the barrel of a one-and-done season as head coach if he’s unable to right the ship. There’s a good chance Desmond Ridder finds himself as the Raiders’ starter when the team returns in Week 11 against the Dolphins, but we wouldn’t expect him elevate the Raiders’ offense any more than Minshew or Aidan O’Connell did.

Minshew was benched half-way through the third quarter, with Desmond Ridder coming in for him. He finished his day with 10 completions for 124 yards behind an increasingly banged-up offensive line. Minshew was credited with a fumble on a botched handoff to WR DJ Turner, leading to the Bengals recovering deep in Raiders territory and an ensuing score. With Aidan O’Connell on injured reserve, Minshew’s benching indicates the second time he has fallen out of Antonio Pierce’s favor. We will see how the Raiders move forward with their quarterback situation, but Minshew’s prospects as an NFL starter took a hit.