One of the biggest storylines through training camp has been who will be the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, Aidan O’Connell or Gardner Minshew? For former NFL wide receiver Dez Bryant, he has his answer after just one preseason game.
Dez Bryant Thinks Gardner Minshew Should Be Raiders’ QB
Throughout most of training camp, it’s been an even battle between O’Connell and Minshew. For O’Connell, he has the advantage of experience in the system. Having been with the team and head coach Antonio Pierce last year, there could be a sense of continuity that makes him an attractive option.
However, Minshew has the advantage of his contract. In free agency, the Raiders signed Minshew to a two-year, $25 million deal.
In the Raiders’ first preseason game, they faced the Minnesota Vikings. O’Connell got the start and played just one drive that ended in a field goal. He finished the game 7-of-9 for 76 yards and no touchdowns.
Minshew then took over on the second drive and played the rest of the half. He finished 6-of-12 for 117 yards and one touchdown. He also had one rush for seven yards.
Gardner Minshew finds DJ Turner for the @Raiders TD!
📺: #LVvsMIN on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/FH7UY8Fk0o— NFL (@NFL) August 10, 2024
The Raiders scored two touchdowns and a field goal with Minshew running the show. For Dez Bryant, that was all he needed to see.
It will be the Minshew show in Las Vegas
Adams will have 1500-1700yds with Minshew at QB
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) August 10, 2024
“It will be the Minshew show in Las Vegas,” said Bryant on X (formerly known as Twitter). “[Davante] Adams will have 1500-1700 yds with Minshew at QB.”
In 2023, Adams caught 103 passes for 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns. Netflix’s “Receiver” revealed that Adams was a key factor in the benching of Jimmy Garoppolo in favor of O’Connell, with Adams telling them to do it.
Bryant also posted just a few minutes earlier about Minshew.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Gardner minshew become the starting QB for the Raiders
He’s yet to get the real opportunity he deserves
He should get a fair shot to be the guy!
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) August 10, 2024
“I wouldn’t be surprised if Gardner Minshew becomes (sic) the starting QB for the Raiders,” said Bryant. “He’s yet to get the real opportunity he deserves … He should get a fair shot to be the guy!”
Minshew is entering the sixth year of his NFL career after being taken in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Jacksonville Jaguars. He received the majority of his playtime with Jacksonville in 2019 and 2020, totaling 5,530 yards, 37 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions in 23 games, with 20 starts.
Following his time with Jacksonville, which ended when the team took Trevor Lawrence with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, Minshew signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as a backup. He started four games and passed for 1,102 yards, seven touchdowns, and four interceptions.
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Most recently, he spent 2023 with the Indianapolis Colts as a backup once again. However, when starter Anthony Richardson went down with an injury early in the season, Minshew started the remaining 13 games. He passed for 3,305 yards, 15 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. As a result, he was named to his first Pro Bowl.
If Minshew is named the Raiders’ starter, it would be only the second time ever he’s entered a season as a team’s starter, and the first since he was the Jaguars’ starter in 2020. However, he would have a much better weapon in Adams than he had in anyone in Jacksonville.
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