RAIDERS BENCH DEREK CARR, NAME BACKUP QB JARRETT STIDHAM AS THE STARTER
The Las Vegas Raiders are benching starting quarterback Derek Carr for the remainder of the season and starting backup QB Jarrett Stidham, head coach Josh McDaniels announced on Wednesday.
The team is still mathematically in the running for the postseason and at 6-9 could go in via wins in their last two games and results elsewhere going their way.
Although the Raiders benching Carr could not accurately be described as them throwing in the towel, it sure feels like it. Carr holds virtually every passing record in franchise history including the most touchdown passes (217), most game-winning drives (33), and most fourth-quarter comebacks (28). He has also started an incredible 91 consecutive regular season games, the longest active streak for the same team by a quarterback in the league.
Head coach Josh McDaniels said on Wednesday, “None of us is happy where we’re at, but we think it’s an opportunity to evaluate a younger player [Stidham] who hasn’t had much time to play. Talking to Derek – who was great – he understands the scenario that we’re in and the situation. [He is] very supportive of the two young guys. Those three guys have worked together hand in hand all year. He’ll do anything he can to help them.”
According to multiple sources, Carr and the Raiders agreed that he would step away from the team for the remainder of the regular season to not be a distraction. The 31-year-old was the only active Raiders player not to practice on Wednesday, and the team listed his absence as “not injury related, personal.”
Carr has thrown a league-leading 14 interceptions this year, including three on Saturday night during a 13-10 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers, a night in which he completed just 53.3% of his passes. Stidham on the other hand has only thrown 61 passes in the NFL and has never started a game in his career. A 2019 fourth-round pick out of Auburn, Stidham is 8-for-13 for 72 yards in three games this season.
“He can spin the ball,” Raiders running back and league rushing yards leader Josh Jacobs said. “He’s been in the system longer than any quarterback we’ve had here. So he knows what’s going on. He knows what reads to make. It’s going to be fun to see him in the game.”
The team will still need to make a contract decision regarding the developing situation with Derek Carr. Carr signed a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension in the offseason, a $40.5 million annual average pay extension that included a no-trade clause. The deal also included $40.4 million ($32.9 million in 2023 and $7.5 million in 2024) which becomes fully guaranteed should Carr get injured.
The Raiders could still save $29.25 million in 2023 salary cap space if they traded or released Derek Carr. The team would suffer a $5.625 salary-cap hit but that decision would need to be made within three days of the Super Bowl, before the 16th of February, 2023.
Overall, the team could get out of Carr’s contract in the offseason and will likely make a final decision regarding Carr’s future with the team then.
Head coach Josh McDaniels and General Manager Dave Zeigler have New England roots and drafted Stidham for the Patriots three years ago. As per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, both men think highly of the 26-year-old quarterback and want to take a look at him before making a final quarterback decision in the offseason.
Head coach Josh McDaniel said that the team is looking at youth at quarterback and other positions and that Carr will not play as some of the veterans take a step back. “There’s a lot to be sorted through once the season is over,” he said.
Raiders All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams was Carr’s college teammate at Fresno State and is a long-term friend of Carr’s. Adams was acquired by the Raiders in the offseason via a trade with the Green Bay Packers, a deal that Adams preferred largely in part due to his on-the-field history with Carr. He said Wednesday regarding Carr’s benching: “Obviously, I don’t think anybody was excited about it in here.”
“You know, him being one of my really good friends and the reason why I came here in the first place, I mean, I wouldn’t be here right now if he wasn’t here. So I think everybody knows how I feel about him. There’s a process of how things go, and I’m not going to sit here and go on and on, but obviously, I support my guy and we’ve got to finish the season out the best way we can possible with all things considered.”
“This man gave everything he had,” Adams added via a post on Instagram. “[He is] the reason I’m a Raider. One of the most disciplined and loving people I know. Got my bruddas back through whatever and if you can’t respect it (excuse my language) expletive you!!! Love u bruh.”
The Raiders will now see out the regular season with Jarrett Stidham as the starting quarterback, and his backup will now be undrafted rookie free agent out of the University of California, Chase Garbers, leaving Derek Carr to be inactive on Sunday. The Raiders will play host to the 11-4 San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium at 4 pm ET/ 1 pm PST, live on FOX.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: All-Pro Reels. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.