Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jarrett Stidham (3) head into the locker after warm up during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans at Allegiant Stadium Sunday, Oct. 23, 2022.
Published Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022 | 11:13 a.m.
Updated Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2022 | 2:24 p.m.
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The Raiders will sit longtime quarterback Derek Carr for the final two games of the season. Jarrett Stidham, who served as Carr's backup for the first 15 games of the season, will start.
Raiders coach Josh McDaniels announced the change Wednesday at the team’s Henderson headquarters in a news conference ahead of Sunday’s home game against the San Francisco 49ers.
"None of us are happy with where we’re at, but we think it’s an opportunity to evaluate a younger player who hasn’t had much time to play," McDaniels said.
In nine seasons with the Raiders, Carr has never previously missed a start for any reason other than injury. The benching appears to be a precursor to the franchise moving on from Carr this offseason. Despite signing a contract extension before this season, Carr can be released with a minimal cap hit after the Super Bowl.
Las Vegas could also opt into Carr’s contract, which includes three more years and $116 million, and use him as a trade chip.
“We’ll see how this goes going forward," McDaniels said. "I’m not going to sit here and predict the future. There’s a lot that could happen and we’re going to take those things one day at a time and right now we’re going to get ready for the 49ers.”
In his first season under McDaniels, and despite the arrival of top receiver Davante Adams, Carr has struggled and put up one of his worst years statistically.
He currently leads the NFL with 14 interceptions after throwing three in a 13-10 loss at the Steelers last Saturday that all but ended the Raiders’ playoff chances.
Carr is not expected to be active against either the 49ers or the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 18, with McDaniels announcing that practice-squad quarterback Chase Garbers would serve as Stidham’s backup.
"Those aren't easy conversations with the nature of the position but I couldn't be more complimentary for the way he handled the situation," McDaniels said of informing Carr of his decision.
Las Vegas rose from a 5.5-point underdog to a 10-point underdog with the announcement of the quarterback switch. It's also expected to be a big underdog in the regular-season finale against the Chiefs, meaning the Raiders are likely to finish with a 6-11 record that would be the franchise's worst since a 3-13 campaign in Carr's rookie 2014 season.
The Raiders would owe Carr his full $32.9 million next season if he got hurt in the final two games. McDaniels downplayed that wrinkle affecting his decision-making as it pertained to the quarterback position for the rest of the year but it would be foolish to consider it a non-factor.
McDaniels also announced that the team added edge rusher Chandler Jones and linebacker Denzel Perryman, both of whom suffered what appeared to be major injuries against the Steelers, to injured reserve.
Stidham will be making his first NFL start against the 49ers, though he’s appeared in 11 games with 342 passing yards while completing 32 of 61 attempts with two touchdowns and four interceptions over the last four seasons. Three of those games came with the Raiders this year where he's completed eight of 13 passing attempts for 72 yards when pressed into action late in games while Carr rested.
The former fourth-round pick out of Auburn and Baylor spent his first three seasons with the New England Patriots, where McDaniels was the offensive coordinator. Las Vegas traded for him in exchange for a sixth-round pick in May, and he beat out veteran free agent addition Nick Mullens to become Carr’s backup in training camp.
Stidham served as Tom Brady’s backup in New England during his rookie season in 2019 before falling to third on the depth chart in 2020 behind Cam Newton and Brian Hoyer.
He missed all of the 2021 season following back surgery and then welcomed the trade with the Raiders as a chance to reunite with McDaniels. Carr praised Stidham and called him a “really nice person” going into the season.
McDaniels said on Wednesday that Carr was willing to “do anything he can to help” Stidham, but the veteran quarterback was not seen at the Raiders facility Wednesday including during a portion of practice open to the media.
Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or
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