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WSU Legend Gardner Minshew Named Las Vegas Raiders Starting QB

Joe Londergan

Aug 17, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) warms up against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 17, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew (15) warms up against the Dallas Cowboys at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports / Candice Ward-USA TODAY Sports

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce announced Sunday that the team would be moving forward with Gardner Minshew as the team's starting quarterback. Minshew had been in competition with Aidan O'Connell throughout training camp and the preseason.

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"Myself, [general manager Tom] Telesco and [offensive coordinator] Luke Getsy discussed it this morning. A lot of things went into it. It wasn't based off of last night, there's a lot of factors." Pierce told reporters. "We feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to get off to a fast start, and that's what we're going with. We support him, our team's behind it, our staff's behind it, our organization's behind it."

This preseason, Minshew had completed 16 passes on 33 attempts for 212 yards and a touchdown.

Minshew joined the Raiders this offseason in free agency on a two-year deal after a stint as the starter for the Indianapolis Colts earned him a selection to his first Pro Bowl as an alternate.

In 2018 under Mike Leach, Minshew's only season in Pullman, he threw for 4,779 yards and 38 touchdowns. He led the Cougs to an 11-2 overall record (the best of any season in school history) and an Alamo Bowl win over Iowa State.

The Raiders open the regular season on September 8 against the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Joe Londergan
JOE LONDERGAN

Joe Londergan joined the SI brand in 2023 with G5 Football Daily. With over 15 years of experience in covering and working directly in college and pro sports, Joe's expertise has been featured in Front Office Sports, SB Nation, and XRAY.FM. He is a member of both the Football Writers' Association of America and the National Collegiate Baseball Writers' Association. Joe holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Louisville and a master's degree in sports administration from Seattle University. Outside of his writing career, Joe enjoys golfing, although he admits that while he hits driver decently, his short game is a liability.

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