Once again, Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr did not play in this game. On the sideline with him were Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow, and Kolton Miller. Even Josh Jacobs was absent in this one. As such, this became a showcase for the reserves who are still looking to earn a shot.
Jarrett Stidham Starts Again For The Raiders
Jarrett Stidham, a former Patriots draft pick, returned to the starting lineup. On his first drive, he made several easy throws as the Raiders looked to make things easy on their back-ups. On a fifteen-play first drive, he did a good job of delivering the ball on time despite being under some considerable pressure.
The next time the Raiders were on the field, Stidham made it a point to test the Vikings early as he delivered a strike to Tyron Johnson, who ran a great comeback route along the sideline. Eventually, he would notch another rushing touchdown in the red zone.
Despite taking three sacks and facing pressure often, Stidham fared relatively well. He’s good at finding his check downs and is unafraid to get out of the pocket to make plays. He looks the part of a backup quarterback.
Nick Mullens and Chase Garbers
After Stidham played the entire first half, the second half had to be split up between Mullens and Garbers. With not much playing time to go around, Mullens made the most of his opportunity with a touchdown pass to wideout D.J. Turner. While Turner made a nice play when he turned the corner for six, the throw by Mullens was perfect as he split the defense over the middle of the field.
For Garbers, he received many fewer opportunities. With just three passing attempts in the game, he would have two completions, including a nice catch by Turner over the middle of the field. As a UDFA from Cal, he has more work to do in order to make this Raiders roster.
Final Thoughts
Overall, we did not learn much from this game that wasn’t known before the game. As mentioned, Stidham played the entire first half and was able to keep the ball moving for the most part. Although Mullens had some nice moments, it appears that Stidham has locked up the backup job.
Perhaps the most surprising player from Sunday’s game was D.J. Turner. Diminutive but fast, he was impactful with his touches to the tune of three receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown. With plenty of opportunities behind Davante Adams and Hunter Renfrow, Turner could earn himself a spot due to his ability to contribute on special teams.
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*Top Photo: Nick Cammett/Getty Images