Raiders announce unexpected QB decision for Week 11

Nov 12, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce enters the field for warm up against the New York Jets at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

The Las Vegas Raiders have been keeping everyone guessing over their quarterback decisions, and they did it again on Wednesday.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce told reporters Wednesday that the team is sticking with Gardner Minshew at starter. There had been reports earlier in the week that the team would turn to Desmond Ridder for Week 11 after he replaced Minshew during the second half of the team’s Week 9 loss to Cincinnati.

The Raiders had the bye week to ponder this decision and are ultimately sticking with Minshew. He is only 2-5 as a starter this year and has eight interceptions to just six touchdowns. The assumption had been that they wanted to see if Ridder could offer them anything different after he was signed off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on Oct. 22.

The Raiders are picking between Minshew and Ridder with Aidan O’Connell out for the foreseeable future due to a hand injury. They have lost five in a row ahead of a trip to Miami to face the Dolphins in Week 11, and while they maintain they are not tanking, it probably does not even matter at this point.