Raiders’ Season Takes Another Hit as Gardner Minshew Suffers Season-Ending Injury
LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Raiders’ season, already teetering on the edge of disaster, took a devastating turn on Sunday. Quarterback Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending broken collarbone during the team’s 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos, a source confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The injury occurred late in the fourth quarter when Minshew was sacked by Broncos linebacker Cody Barton. The quarterback landed awkwardly on his left shoulder, immediately clutching his arm in pain as he left the field. Fighting back tears, Minshew headed straight to the locker room with a trainer, his season effectively over.
“It doesn’t look good,” Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce admitted after the game, which marked the team’s seventh straight loss and dropped their record to a dismal 2-9.
Quarterback Crisis in Las Vegas
Minshew’s injury leaves the Raiders in a precarious position at quarterback. The team now has three options: Desmond Ridder, who was signed off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad on October 22; Aidan O’Connell, who is eligible to return from injured reserve after breaking his thumb on October 20; and practice squad quarterback Carter Bradley.
To make matters worse, the Raiders face a short week as they prepare to take on the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs this Friday. The team will need to make a quick decision on who will start under center.
“We’re going to need somebody, right?” Pierce said. “We’re running out of quarterbacks, too, now, so we’ll see what happens [Monday]. But obviously, it looks like [O’Connell is] getting better. He threw a little bit in practice this week.
“Obviously, we’ve got a short week — play on Friday, travel on Thursday — so we have to make that decision very quickly.”
Ridder Ready to Step Up
O’Connell was unavailable for comment after the loss, but Ridder expressed confidence in his ability to step up if called upon. The quarterback completed 5 of 10 passes for 64 yards against the Broncos but lost a fumble on a sack during his first series.
“I’ve been here almost a month and how I feel comfortable with the offense, I’m ready to go,” Ridder said. “So whatever that situation may be, it’s not up to me — it’s up to the higher power. But I’m ready for any situation there may be.”
A Frustrating Season for Minshew
For Minshew, this injury caps off what has been a challenging season. After signing a two-year, $25 million contract with $15 million guaranteed in March, he won a close training camp battle with O’Connell to earn the starting job. However, his performance has been inconsistent at best.
Minshew was benched in Week 6 after a slow start, which included a 100-yard pick-six by Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II. O’Connell took over but was injured in his second start, forcing Minshew back into the lineup.
In 10 games (nine starts), Minshew passed for 2,013 yards with a 66.3% completion rate. He threw nine touchdown passes but also had a career-high 10 interceptions and fumbled five times, losing three. His total QBR of 39.1 entering Sunday was the lowest of his career.
Raiders’ Struggles Continue
Since Minshew’s pick-six against Denver earlier this season, the Raiders have been outscored by a combined 214-118. Their 2-9 record ties them with the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants for the worst record in the NFL.
With the season spiraling out of control, the Raiders face an uphill battle to salvage any positives from the remainder of the year. The team’s quarterback situation is just the latest in a series of setbacks that have plagued Las Vegas in 2024.
NFL Network was the first to report the severity of Minshew’s injury.
Key Takeaways
- Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in the Raiders’ 29-19 loss to the Broncos.
- The Raiders are now 2-9 and tied for the worst record in the NFL.
- Las Vegas faces a short week with a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday.
- Desmond Ridder, Aidan O’Connell, and Carter Bradley are the team’s remaining quarterback options.
Originally Written by: Paul Gutierrez
