Las Vegas' starting quarterback situation remains uncertain as Raiders fall 27-12 to Cowboys
LAS VEGAS (AP) The competition for the Raiders' starting quarterback job remained murky after both Aidan O'Connell and Gardner Minshew were outplayed Saturday night by Trey Lance, a third-stringer who threw a touchdown pass and rushed for another to lead the Dallas Cowboys to a 27-12 preseason victory over Las Vegas.
Lance, a former No. 3 overall draft pick who is trying to remain on the Cowboys' roster, completed 15 of 23 passes for 151 yards. He played the final three quarters for Dallas (1-1). With starter Dak Prescott watching from the sideline, Cooper Rush played the first quarter and completed 1 of 3 passes for 6 yards.
“I thought we improved today and it started with Trey,” Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy said. “He just needs to continue to play, he just needs reps. He needs to play in live games, particularly in the drop-back phase because he’s done a very good job managing everything else. So I thought he clearly took a step today.”
Dallas kicker Brandon Aubrey ended the first half with a 66-yard field goal to give the Cowboys a 13-6 halftime lead. That kick would have tied Justin Tucker’s NFL record if the game had been played in the regular season.
O'Connell looked ready to make a case to be the starter for the Raiders (0-2), but a 69-yard interception returned for a touchdown by cornerback Kemon Hall on the first play of the fourth quarter undid his earlier work. O'Connell finished 14 of 20 for 96 yards with a touchdown and the interception.
“I definitely did some good things, converting a fourth down and a couple of third downs, but missed some throws and missed some reads, too,” O'Connell said. “And then, obviously, the pick-six lingers in your mind.”
Minshew, O'Connell's competition for the job, started for the Raiders and had the full array of offensive talent on the field with him, except for wide receiver Davante Adams and tight end Brock Bowers (foot). Minshew played a drive into the second quarter, missing several open targets while completing 10 of 21 passes for 95 yards. The Raiders scored just a field goal in his four drives.
Minshew said his performance was “not good enough. I had some misthrows, a misread. I have stuff to grow and improve on. I think we shot ourselves in the foot a lot tonight. Any time you do that, you're going to have a hard time, so there's plenty of stuff on tape to get back and work on and get right. There's a lot of good on there, too, to build on and have a lot of confidence in.”
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said he wanted to name a starter after the game against the Cowboys, but neither O’Connell nor Minshew has clearly separated himself this offseason.
“I think everybody wants to see a player just take it and say, ‘I’m the guy,' like I've been saying from Day One,” Pierce said. “That's probably not the case, so we're going to have to make a decision. We're going to live with it and we're going to support whoever that quarterback is for the Raiders going forward.”
Pierce has said not one practice, scrimmage or preseason game will determine which quarterback is chosen, that the decision will come down to more of a big-picture view.
“You've got to focus on the task at hand,” O'Connell said. “I try to do that every day.”
Both quarterbacks are likely going to find out soon who will get the starting job entering the season.
“We've got a super-competitive camp, kind of neck and neck the whole way,” Minshew said. “I feel like we both put together a great body of work and played some great ball and left it up to Coach to make a hard decision. I feel good about everything we've done to this point. I'm super optimistic about what we're going to be able to do as a team this year.”
On the other side, Lance also led two second-quarter drives for 10 points against six Raiders defensive starters. His 20-yard scramble set up Aubrey's long field goal to close the first half.
Lance ended any doubt in the fourth quarter. His 2-yard touchdown run with 2:06 left put the Cowboys ahead by 15 points.
INJURIES
Cowboys DT Mazi Smith did not travel with the team after experiencing an allergic reaction at training camp in Oxnard, California.
UP NEXT
Cowboys: Host the Chargers next Saturday.
Raiders: Host the 49ers on Friday night.
---
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Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
T. Lance
19 QB
21 FPTS
|
T. Lance | 7 | 34 | 1 | 20 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Vaughn
42 RB
3 FPTS
|
D. Vaughn | 5 | 34 | 0 | 12 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Freeman
27 RB
3 FPTS
|
R. Freeman | 7 | 32 | 0 | 8 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. Conner
32 RB
1 FPTS
|
S. Conner | 5 | 15 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Davis
34 RB
1 FPTS
|
M. Davis | 5 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Flournoy
18 WR
12 FPTS
|
R. Flournoy | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Rush
10 QB
0 FPTS
|
C. Rush | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
R. McMath
80 WR
8 FPTS
|
R. McMath | 3 | 3 | 54 | 0 | 30 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Flournoy
18 WR
12 FPTS
|
R. Flournoy | 6 | 4 | 23 | 1 | 10 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Harmon
84 WR
3 FPTS
|
K. Harmon | 2 | 2 | 18 | 0 | 11 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Stephens, Jr.
81 TE
3 FPTS
|
J. Stephens, Jr. | 2 | 2 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Peat
36 RB
2 FPTS
|
N. Peat | 1 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
L. Schoonmaker
86 TE
3 FPTS
|
L. Schoonmaker | 3 | 2 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Holler
49 TE
2 FPTS
|
A. Holler | 1 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Tolbert
1 WR
1 FPTS
|
J. Tolbert | 1 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Spann-Ford
47 TE
0 FPTS
|
B. Spann-Ford | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Conner
32 RB
1 FPTS
|
S. Conner | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Johnson
13 WR
0 FPTS
|
T. Johnson | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
P. Fant
48 TE
0 FPTS
|
P. Fant | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Brooks
83 WR
0 FPTS
|
J. Brooks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Moreno-Cropper
16 WR
0 FPTS
|
J. Moreno-Cropper | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
A. Booth Jr.
23 CB
|
A. Booth Jr. | 7-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Wood
33 SAF
|
J. Wood | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Wilson
45 OLB
|
D. Wilson | 3-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Daxon
95 DE
|
D. Daxon | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Hall
43 DB
|
K. Hall | 2-1 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. DeBerry
38 CB
|
J. DeBerry | 2-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Rogers
96 DT
|
J. Rogers | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Bell
14 LB
|
M. Bell | 2-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Harris
46 LB
|
D. Harris | 2-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Butler
31 DB
|
J. Butler | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Harvey
55 LB
|
W. Harvey | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Kneeland
94 DE
|
M. Kneeland | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Mogensen
59 LB
|
B. Mogensen | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Wheat
91 LB
|
T. Wheat | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Johnson
53 LB
|
J. Johnson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Johnson
57 LB
|
B. Johnson | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Scott, Jr.
37 CB
|
E. Scott, Jr. | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Thomas
30 DB
|
J. Thomas | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Vigil
52 OLB
|
N. Vigil | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Liufau
35 LB
|
M. Liufau | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Johnson
51 DE
|
D. Johnson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Huggins
68 DT
|
A. Huggins | 0-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Phillips
99 DT
|
J. Phillips | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Muhammad
92 DT
|
A. Muhammad | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
B. Aubrey
17 K
9 FPTS
|
B. Aubrey | 2/2 | 66 | 3/3 | 9 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
B. Anger
5 P
|
B. Anger | 5 | 51.8 | 1 | 55 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Johnson
13 WR
0 FPTS
|
T. Johnson | 2 | 22.5 | 25 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Davis
34 RB
1 FPTS
|
M. Davis | 1 | 23.0 | 23 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Vaughn
42 RB
3 FPTS
|
D. Vaughn | 1 | 25.0 | 25 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Moreno-Cropper 16 WR
0 FPTS
|
J. Moreno-Cropper | 2 | 8.5 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Johnson 13 WR
0 FPTS
|
T. Johnson | 1 | 4.0 | 4 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | FPTS |
A. O'Connell
12 QB
7 FPTS
|
A. O'Connell | 14/20 | 96 | 1 | 1 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
G. Minshew
15 QB
3 FPTS
|
G. Minshew | 10/21 | 95 | 0 | 0 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Bradley
14 QB
2 FPTS
|
C. Bradley | 8/13 | 56 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
Z. White
3 RB
2 FPTS
|
Z. White | 4 | 23 | 0 | 17 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Mattison
22 RB
2 FPTS
|
A. Mattison | 5 | 15 | 0 | 5 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Laube
23 RB
0 FPTS
|
D. Laube | 3 | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Bradley
14 QB
2 FPTS
|
C. Bradley | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
B. Brown
38 RB
2 FPTS
|
B. Brown | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
G. Minshew
15 QB
3 FPTS
|
G. Minshew | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Abdullah
8 RB
3 FPTS
|
A. Abdullah | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||
S. McCormick
28 RB
4 FPTS
|
S. McCormick | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG | FPTS |
T. Tucker
11 WR
9 FPTS
|
T. Tucker | 6 | 3 | 66 | 0 | 48 | 9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Wilkerson
83 WR
6 FPTS
|
K. Wilkerson | 5 | 3 | 35 | 0 | 14 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Turner
19 WR
8 FPTS
|
D. Turner | 6 | 5 | 31 | 0 | 12 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Bynum
35 WR
4 FPTS
|
T. Bynum | 2 | 2 | 20 | 0 | 11 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Mayer
87 TE
4 FPTS
|
M. Mayer | 4 | 3 | 16 | 0 | 9 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
H. Bryant
84 TE
10 FPTS
|
H. Bryant | 5 | 3 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
S. McCormick
28 RB
4 FPTS
|
S. McCormick | 3 | 3 | 12 | 0 | 6 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
B. Brown
38 RB
2 FPTS
|
B. Brown | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Abdullah
8 RB
3 FPTS
|
A. Abdullah | 2 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 14 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
R. Keyton
82 WR
1 FPTS
|
R. Keyton | 5 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Guyton
4 WR
2 FPTS
|
J. Guyton | 2 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Mattison
22 RB
2 FPTS
|
A. Mattison | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Fotheringham
85 TE
1 FPTS
|
C. Fotheringham | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Shenker
86 TE
2 FPTS
|
J. Shenker | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
T. McAllister
32 WR
0 FPTS
|
T. McAllister | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Laube
23 RB
0 FPTS
|
D. Laube | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Meyers
16 WR
0 FPTS
|
J. Meyers | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Z. White
3 RB
2 FPTS
|
Z. White | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT | FF |
J. Jones
18 CB
|
J. Jones | 5-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Governor
44 DB
|
D. Governor | 4-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Deablo
5 LB
|
D. Deablo | 4-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Devonshire
26 DB
|
M. Devonshire | 3-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Bennett
0 DB
|
J. Bennett | 2-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Gainer
53 LB
|
A. Gainer | 1-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Hobbs
39 CB
|
N. Hobbs | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Stone Jr.
76 DE
|
R. Stone Jr. | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
E. Smith
92 DE
|
E. Smith | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
A. Butler
69 DT
|
A. Butler | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Epps
1 SAF
|
M. Epps | 1-3 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Koonce
51 DE
|
M. Koonce | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Grant
40 SAF
|
J. Grant | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
D. Richardson
25 CB
|
D. Richardson | 1-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
K. Mauga
43 ILB
|
K. Mauga | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Moehrig
7 SAF
|
T. Moehrig | 1-0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. McCall
52 DT
|
M. McCall | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
C. Smith
29 SS
|
C. Smith | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Wilson
9 DE
|
T. Wilson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Silvera
99 DT
|
N. Silvera | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Crosby
98 DE
|
M. Crosby | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Robinson
97 DE
|
J. Robinson | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Butler
91 DT
|
M. Butler | 0-2 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
I. Pola-Mao
20 SAF
|
I. Pola-Mao | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Spillane
41 LB
|
R. Spillane | 0-5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
L. Masterson
59 LB
|
L. Masterson | 0-1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
D. Carlson
2 K
6 FPTS
|
D. Carlson | 2/2 | 29 | 0/0 | 6 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
A. Cole
6 P
|
A. Cole | 4 | 53.8 | 4 | 69 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
L. Griffin
81 WR
0 FPTS
|
L. Griffin | 2 | 29.0 | 30 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Abdullah
8 RB
3 FPTS
|
A. Abdullah | 1 | 25.0 | 25 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Mattison
22 RB
2 FPTS
|
A. Mattison | 1 | 23.0 | 23 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
T. Tucker 11 WR
9 FPTS
|
T. Tucker | 2 | 24.0 | 43 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Turner 19 WR
8 FPTS
|
D. Turner | 1 | 13.0 | 13 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Abdullah 8 RB
3 FPTS
|
A. Abdullah | 1 | 11.0 | 11 | 0 |