Raiders name Gardner Minshew starting quarterback over Aidan O'Connell

The Raiders’ quarterback competition is complete; Gardner Minshew has beaten out Aidan O’Connell for the right to start the season.

Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce announced the decision Sunday morning after reviewing film from last night’s preseason loss to Dallas and conferring with general manager Tom Telesco and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.

“A lot of things went into it,” Pierce said. “It wasn’t based on last night. There were a lot of factors. We felt like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to get us off to a fast start and that’s who we’re going with. We support him. Our team is behind it. Our staff is behind it and the organization is behind it.”

Pierce insisted ever since the Raiders signed Minshew in free agency that whoever played better in training camp and the preseason would win the right to the job. Choosing Minshew proves he stuck to that vow.

It wasn’t a runaway by any means but the sixth-year veteran out of Washington State outplayed the second-year player out of Purdue in totality over the last month. O’Connell had more interceptions and turnover-worthy throws in training camp while Minshew showed off his ability to make plays outside of the pocket — a staple of Getsy’s scheme.

The pair of preseason games left more up for debate as to who was the better option. Minshew finished the exhibition slate with 212 passing yards and a touchdown on 16-for-33 passing, while O’Connell completed 21 of 29 attempts for 172 yards with one touchdown, one interception and one sack.

“Aidan is a young player who has tremendous upside,” Pierce said. “I think will be a starter at some point in this league whether it’s this year or next year. He will play in games. I think Gardner has done a good job being that older presence because he’s played a couple years in the league and has been through some adversity.”

Pierce said experience was a deciding factor in giving Minshew the job as well as “certain things we saw in practice” and “taking care of the ball.”

The Raiders were ahead of the Cowboys last night before O’Connell threw an interception returned for a touchdown.

Neither Minshew nor O’Connell will play in the preseason finale at 7 p.m. Friday when the Raiders host the 49ers. But the former will be behind center when the regular season commences at 1:05 p.m. on Sunday Sept. 8 with Las Vegas traveling to take on the Los Angeles Chargers.

“His personality is infectious,” Pierce said of Minshew. “His energy is infectious. His leadership is infectious. Things of improvement? Footwork in the pocket, staying on script. There is some magic about him when he does break the pocket and do his thing but there are some times when the first or second read is there, we’ve got to let it rip. He understands that.”

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