Luke Getsy is gone and Scott and Norv Turner arrived during the Las Vegas Raiders’ bye week as part of head coach Antonio Pierce’s attempt to repair a broken offense.
But Pierce said Wednesday that he and the Turners agree quarterback Gardner Minshew remains the starter as the Raiders (2-7) return to the field and prepare to visit the Miami Dolphins (4-6) on Sunday.
“When we brought in Gardner, we expected, obviously, the player we’d seen in the past,” Pierce said Wednesday. “At some point, you’ve got to give the guy confidence. There have been times with turnovers and other things that have taken place we made a decision to put him on the bench and go with another quarterback. This week I feel like Gardner gives us the best opportunity to move forward. He has every opportunity to go out there and help us.”
Pierce said he consulted his new offensive coaching staff and reminded Minshew “everybody around him” believes he can get the job done, and that he just needs to “cut it loose.”
Scott Turner is expected to call plays this week for the Raiders, who are tied with the Tennessee Titans for the AFC’s worst scoring margin at minus-83 points. Norv Turner joined the staff as a senior adviser.
Minshew, 28, has six touchdowns, eight interceptions and five lost fumbles in eight games (seven starts) this year.
A bye week provided a break for the new offensive staff to convene and paused a five-game losing streak.
Las Vegas is coming off a 41-24 loss at Cincinnati in Week 9. Minshew started and completed only 10 passes for 124 yards before the Raiders turned to Desmond Ridder late in the third quarter. Ridder completed 11 of 16 passes for 74 yards with a touchdown to rookie tight end Brock Bowers and was also sacked four times.
“What do we have to lose at this point?” Pierce asked rhetorically Wednesday. “We’re 2-7. Everything that’s behind us is behind us.”
