Gardner Minshew will be the Las Vegas Raiders‘ starting quarterback in Week 1, and head coach Antonio Pierce has revealed that Minshew’s hard work is a big reason why.
While speaking to the media, Pierce raved about Minshew’s work ethic and how the Raiders have taken notice of how much effort he puts in.
“Yeah, he’s a football junkie,” Pierce said, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “We always talk about Maxx [Crosby] and Christian [Wilkins] about being the first guys in the building, but he’s not too far behind. And he stays late, and he’s done a lot of things without a lot of hype and things that we talk about throughout the building that’s starting to show up a little bit. And I think our team is really taking notice of that.”
Pierce added that Minshew has taken on a leadership role, as well.
“And, obviously, since we’ve named him the starting quarterback, he’s kind of taken on that role with our skill position players and our O-line. So, it’s been good to see in the building,” Pierce said.
This does not come as too much of a surprise, as Minshew has been incredibly well-liked everywhere he has been.
Can Gardner Minshew keep his starting job with the Las Vegas Raiders?
The question is whether or not Minshew can hold off Aidan O’Connell for the entirety of the 2024 season.
O’Connell was named Las Vegas’ starting quarterback midway through last year, but he obviously did not do enough to keep the job.
The Raiders signed Minshew in free agency to provide some competition, and he ended up outplaying O’Connell in camp.
However, you have to wonder how long of a leash Minshew has going into the season.
At this point, Minshew basically is what he is: a decent starter who is probably better served as a backup, where he is among the NFL’s best (if not the best).
More than likely, Minshew isn’t the future under center for Las Vegas. O’Connell, on the other hand, is still just 26 years old and is heading into what is only his second NFL season.
That being said, it seems pretty clear that the Raiders don’t believe in O’Connell moving forward, which is why they gave the starting job to Minshew to begin with.
Gardner Minshew and the Las Vegas Raiders will open their season against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 8.
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