Raiders to make a quarterback change against San Francisco

Jarrett Stidham (left with Tom Brady) (Alexander Jonesi, Wikimedia Commons)

The Las Vegas Raiders have very slim playoff hopes with a current record of six wins and nine losses. On Sunday, they can be knocked out of playoff contention in the American Football Conference with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers OR a New York Jets win over the Seattle Seahawks OR a Miami Dolphins win over the New England Patriots.

As Las Vegas prepares for their game on New Year’s Day against the only Bay Area team in the National Football League, the Raiders announced on Wednesday that they will bench starting quarterback and former Pro Bowler Derek Carr of Fresno, California for backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham of Corbin, Kentucky, according to Nick Shook of nfl.com. In addition to the game against the 49ers, Stidham will get the start on January 8 against the Kansas City Chiefs. The Raiders will also have to beat Kansas City if they hope to make the postseason.

Stidham had never had a quarterback start in the NFL. In three games off the bench in 2022, he has completed eight of 13 passes for 72 yards. In Stidham’s first two NFL seasons with the New England Patriots in 2019 and 2020, he completed 24 of 48 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. Stidham (pictured in the left) was a backup to Tom Brady (pictured in the right), in his rookie season.

More was expected this season from Carr, especially when the Raiders acquired wide receiver Davante Adams in the offseason from the Green Bay Packers. In 2022, Carr actually leads the NFL with 14 interceptions. He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2015, 2016 and 2017 while with the Oakland Raiders.

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