The Raiders are looking for a new quarterback.
Not a starter — but not a prospect, either.
Pete Carroll weighed in Sunday on the Raiders’ quarterback challenges following Aidan O’Connell’s wrist fracture in the team’s final preseason game, calling the injury “a big blow” to the team.
Carroll acknowledged that O’Connell’s recovery will take time and that the team will be looking for an experienced quarterback to solidify the backup spot to newly acquired Geno Smith.
“All possibilities are available right now, wherever they come from,” Carroll said. “We’re looking everywhere to see the best guy that fits us. So if you don’t mind, I’m not gonna lay out exactly what we’re looking for here, I don’t want to show our hand. But I want somebody who’s played, that’s what’s important. A guy that’s had game experience is really huge to me.”
Outside of Smith and O’Connell, the Raiders are expected to roster Cam Miller of North Dakota State, who was selected in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Still, Carroll and the Raiders seem to want experience behind Smith, as the team attempts to make the playoffs for the first time since the 2021 postseason.
“We have Cam,” Carroll said, “and Cam hasn’t played in the league much. So we’re looking for an experienced player who can help us.”
Carroll also touched on the team’s broader competitive nature just this past week.
“I’m always looking for more competition, but it is apparent that in all different phases of our team, we have guys that are battling to push to get their spots,” he said. “And we’re trying to give them opportunities with the higher group to show that they can match up and all that. And it’s exactly what this program is all about.
“So the more competitive we can make it, the longer it can keep the competitiveness alive. We don’t need to make any big decisions right away. We’ll take our time at it and let it continue to factor in. Guys coming into the program and a new guy comes in today, [Terrell] Edmunds comes in today, guys take note of that. They know that we’re still looking, we’re still trying to get this as competitive as we could possibly get. So we’ll be pushing that way forever, but right now it’s really apparent.”
That is in line, seemingly, with the Raiders’ mentality following the injury to O’Connell.
The Raiders’ regular season will begin on Sept. 7 in New England against the Patriots.
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