Carr is pumped up against the Seahawks. Photo by Tony Gonzales
Head Coach Dennis Allen named rookie QB Derek Carr the starting quarterback for the Raiders. Carr kicks off his tenure with the 2014 season opener against the Jets at MetLife Stadium in New York this Sunday.
Carr will be the first opening day rookie starting quarterback in team history. He will also be the only rookie QB starting opening day this season.
Carr finished the preseason with an outstanding performance vs. the world champion Seattle Seahawks. He led the squad down the field four times, with all four drives resulting in a touchdown. He finished his day 11-for-13 for 143 yards and three touchdown passes. Carr was taken out of the game during the 2nd quarter with a 152.1 passer rating. The best possible passer rating is 158.3.
The Raiders second-round pick out of Fresno State connected in the end zone with WR Denarius Moore twice, TE Mychal Rivera once and handed the ball off to RB Latavius Murray for one.
Carr's performance against the Seahawks was by far his best showing of the preseason.
He showed improvement from game-to-game. In his first appearance, Carr completed 10-of-16 passes for 74 yards and an interception in Minnesota. That interception, however, was a pass tipped off the hands of FB Jamize Olawale.
In his second preseason appearance, Carr completed 9-of-16 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown vs. the Detroit Lions. He came out of the game early after being hit hard and sustaining a concussion.
Due to the injury, Carr sat out the third preseason game in Green Bay. Obviously, that small setback did not hinder his progress as he showed Raider Nation what he is capable of when by challenging the Seahawks Legion of Boom. The Raiders beat the Seahawks 41-31.
Now, Carr will have to prove himself in a regular season game. He will have his first opportunity Sunday at 10:00 a.m. PT as the Raiders face the New York Jets.
