Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew, who began the season as a starter, experienced a rough opening stretch with underwhelming performances leading to his benching in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell.
Minshew returned to the field in Week 7 after O’Connell suffered a fractured thumb and had a decent game against the Kansas City Chiefs, completing 24 out of 30 pass attempts with two touchdowns and zero interceptions, though the Raiders lost 27-20.
On the “Let’s Go!” podcast, former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick addressed Minshew’s future as a starting quarterback, advising that:
“Ball security is job security.”
This warning comes as Minshew has struggled with turnovers; he has thrown six touchdowns but also has eight interceptions this season, contributing to a career interception rate of 4.0 percent. Last season with the Indianapolis Colts, Minshew threw 15 touchdown passes but also racked up nine interceptions and eight fumbles over 17 games.
This performance is fueling speculation about the Raiders’ trajectory, especially following their recent trade of star receiver Davante Adams to the New York Jets.
With a record of 2-6, the Raiders are potentially on the verge of a rebuilding phase, and they may be looking toward the 2025 NFL Draft to secure a franchise quarterback.
