Gardner Minshew II has been named the Raiders' starting quarterback for this upcoming season following a close QB competition over the past few months.
This will be a big opportunity for Minshew to prove himself as "the point guard" of the offense. This is the first time in his career he's been named the starter going into the start of the regular season. However based on the quarterback's track record, the spotlight isn't something that bothers him. He's just a season removed from being selected to the Pro Bowl after nearly taking the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs, which included a pivotal 23-20 victory over his current team in Week 17.
He also won't be lacking weapons around him with Mayer, All-Pro receiver Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers, and 2024 first-rounder Brock Bowers.
"We got the guys who can make our plays explosive that can add on top of play that's already there and really make it come to life," Minshew said. "Playing point guard out there, helping our team, take care of the ball and just try to win any way possible."
Minshew has developed a healthy rapport with his tight end room this camp, especially second-year player Michael Mayer. While there's too many practice pass completions for Mayer to count between the two, there's one thing that stood out to him about Minshew – escapability.
Mayer remembers one play in particular where Minshew properly identified pressure coming from the strong side, promptly rolling out of the pocket to the weak side to escape the would've been sack. The quarterback managed to keep his eyes down the field, waiting for Mayer to complete his route and get open down the sideline.
"He's shown his playmaking ability, he's shown his leadership, he's shown everything you need to do to be QB1 for the Las Vegas Raiders," Mayer said following the team's open practice at Allegiant Stadium on Tuesday. "Now it's time to dig in and get a really strong connection with him and play ball. ... It's important to gain more time back there in the backfield. Let your receivers and tight ends run their routes, run their assignments and get the heck open."
Evaluating the Raiders' beginning stretch to the season, three of their first five opponents ranked in the top 10 of fewest points allowed in 2023. Facing the likes of Khalil Mack, Roquan Smith and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett won't be an easy task. Minshew's veteran leadership and prowess to keep plays alive is what Antonio Pierce felt was needed.
"There's a lot of factors, so we feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to get off to a fast start, and that's what we're going with," Pierce said. "We support him, our teams behind it, our staff behind it, organizations behind it. ... There's some magic about him when he does break the pocket and does his thing, but there's a lot of times where if the first or second read is there, we got to let it rip. He understands that, and more importantly taking care of the football."
Pierce and offensive coordinator Luke Getsy have been vocal in looking for a quarterback who can extend plays while also managing the game. While Minshew's gunslinger mentality has the ability to take over in games, taking care of the football is still one of their primary goals.
"The good thing about Luke's offense is it's very versatile," Minshew said. "I think we have everything from run, play action, keepers, quick game, dropbacks – I think there's a lot of ways to attack and a lot of things that can keep a defense off guard.
"I think one of the things he values is being able to play the game but then being able to extend it and that's where a lot of explosives come from in this league. Just managing the explosives versus the turnovers and taking care of the ball."
Head inside Allegiant Stadium for the Raiders' second open 2024 Training Camp practice.