Kenny

Pickett

Pickett appeared to be benched after throwing a first quarter interception on an intermediate pass attempt, but he did return at one point as the Raiders split snaps between Aidan O’Connell and Pickett. Pickett enters free agency without much on his side other than youth. Pickett played for four teams in four seasons of his rookie contract and is a candidate to be a backup in 2026.

Smith is dealing with an ankle injury and won’t suit up for the season finale against the Chiefs. That means Kenny Pickett will get another start for a Raiders team positioned to get the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Pickett threw for 64 yards and an interception in a Week 14 start against the Eagles.

Has anyone tried asking the Raiders to be normal? We’re just asking questions here. Carroll said both players would play. Neither player is worth rostering in superflex leagues in Week 18. O’Connell has probably performed like a better quarterback but spent all season buried on the depth chart for reasons that defy rational explanation.

It appears as though Smith’s season is over. Earlier today, Vegas Nation’s Vincent Bonsignore reported that the Raiders will use “a combination of Kenny Pickett and Aidan O’Connell” this week. Neither player should be in starting lineups, in what sounds like some sort of game-day platoon. In his first season with the Raiders, Smith completed 302-of-448 passes for 3,025 yards, 19 touchdowns and 17 interceptions, while rushing 41 times for 109 yards. He is under contract through 2027, though he is owed no money that season. If the Raiders were to cut him this offseason, it would cost them $18.5 million in dead money while saving them $8 million.

Bonsignore seems to imply both players will take reps in Week 18. Pickett has been the first player off the bench, so we assume he will get the start. Should the Raiders actually employ a two-quarterback game plan, neither player should be anywhere near a re-draft or DFS lineup.

For those of you keeping up-to-the-minute updates on the end of the Raiders season — there’s a few of you, right? — Carroll said yesterday that Smith had a high-ankle sprain. He apparently does not have that, after all. But what he does have remains significant. The end result is probably still Kenny Pickett starting in Week 18 against the Chiefs in a game that the Raiders clearly want to lose. Pickett does, admittedly, give them a leg up in that competition. We’ll see if he can match Chris Olodokun throw for throw.

Pickett connected with rookie WR Dont’e Thornton for a five-yard gain and later linked up with his old pal, WR Shedrick Jackson, Bo Jackson’s nephew, for an 11-yard gain. Unfortunately, on the latter play, it was a 4th-and-16 from the Giants’ 47-yard line. Pickett will likely start against the Chiefs next week. He is a borderline QB2/3.

Unfortunately, this comes as no surprise. Smith had his right foot pinned by a Raiders offensive lineman during an interception return, and a Giants defender hit him via an illegal block from the left side, badly twisting the right ankle. Trainers came out to meet Smith on the field after he remained down after the play. He eventually limped his way to the locker room and was later ruled out. Considering this injury often fells players for multiple weeks, it’s likely Smith is done for the season and Kenny Pickett should be in line to get Week 18 work.

Smith was injured via an illegal block during an interception return on the Raiders’ seventh drive. A Raiders offensive lineman hit the ground on the play, pinning Smith’s right foot as Giants CB Rico Payton hit Smith from the left, twisting and stressing the inside of Smith’s right knee and ankle joints. It was Smith’s second interception of the day. His first occurred on a red zone play, when he errantly threw the football to Giants LB Bobby Okereke while attempting to lead TE Michael Mayer. If Smith can face the Chiefs next week, he will be a low-end QB2. Raiders backup QB Kenny Pickett could get the start. Before exiting, Smith completed 20-of-28 passes for 176 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He rushed once for one yard and took three sacks for 24 yards.

It was unclear how things could get worse for the Raiders in Geno Smith’s (shoulder) absence, but they did just that in Philly, with the game taking barely two and a half hours as the Raiders mustered 75 yards of offense. Pickett had 29 yards net passing thanks to taking four sacks for 35 yards. The Eagles rested their starters for nearly the entire fourth quarter. Abysmal, unwatchable stuff that ensures the Raiders will actually try to get Smith back under center if he’s able for Week 16 in Houston. Whomever gets the call will be getting thrown to the wolves vs. perhaps the league’s best overall pass defense. It makes players like Brock Bowers tenuous for the fantasy semifinals.