Matt Leinart is heading back to California, and back to backing up Carson Palmer.
Leinart is signing today with the Oakland Raiders, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports.
In 2002, when Palmer won the Heisman Trophy at USC, Leinart was his backup. Leinart would go on to earn the starting job at USC, win the Heisman Trophy in 2004 and was the 10th overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft.
But unlike Palmer, Leinart has never proven himself capable of playing in the NFL. Leinart was a major disappointment for the Cardinals and spent the last two seasons as a backup in Houston, where he suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in his only start last year.
After the Texans released Leinart, there didn’t appear to be a lot of interest. But with the Raiders he’ll have a good chance of making the roster as the No. 2 quarterback, behind Palmer and ahead of Terrelle Pryor on the quarterback depth chart.
UPDATE, 6:53 P.M.: The Raiders have officially announced that Leinart has signed.