Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew is officially out for the rest of the 2024 season after suffering a broken collarbone from a sack late in the 29-19 home loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday. He was replaced by Desmond Ridder.
More News: Top 5 Landing Spots for QB Daniel Jones After Shocking Release From Giants
Minshew had been solid in Week 12 up until his injury, completing 25 passes for 230 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. He also took three sacks and fumbled once.
After Minshew’s departure, Ridder threw for 64 yards on five completions. Meanwhile, punter AJ Cole added a 34-yard pass of his own. Despite these efforts, the Raiders’ hopes of a comeback quickly faded, as Denver secured a 29-19 victory.
Michael Owens/Getty Images
This loss extends Las Vegas’ losing streak to seven games, with most of those defeats coming by at least two touchdowns. With a challenging schedule ahead, the Raiders face an increasingly uphill battle to turn their season around.
Aidan O’Connell is expected to make his return for the Raiders in their Black Friday game against the Chiefs. He is eligible to be activated this week, and multiple sources indicate that he will be back on the field. At the moment, O’Connell and Desmond Ridder remain the Raiders’ most probable quarterback options.
However, Las Vegas could explore signing Daniel Jones, either by placing a waiver claim or waiting for him to clear waivers. The Raiders have faced some of the league’s worst quarterback play this season, and with plans to target a quarterback in next year’s draft, it could be worthwhile to give Jones a chance to start in the season’s final weeks.
The New York Giants stunned the NFL on Friday morning with the announcement that they were releasing Jones. The former sixth overall pick in the 2019 draft had a rocky tenure in New York and is now set to hit waivers, leaving the Giants with more than $20 million in dead cap space. While Minshew’s injury is unquestionably bad news for the Raiders, it also might push them to consider the former Giant.
More News: Former Raiders Head Coach Arrested for Drunk Driving
This season-ending injury is the capper to a bad run for Minshew Minshew. He was benched three times before suffering his recent injury and, in nine games, he’s managed 178 completions for 1,783 yards and eight touchdowns, but he’s also thrown nine interceptions and been sacked 26 times.
This starkly contrasts his performance last year with the Indianapolis Colts, where he started all 17 games, threw for 3,305 yards, and recorded 15 touchdowns. That season earned him his first—and only—Pro Bowl selection.
For more on the NFL, head to Newsweek Sports.