Raiders benching QB Derek Carr for final two games of 2022 season; Jarrett Stidham named starter

The veteran Carr signed a three-year, $121.5 million extension with the Raiders in April that included a no-trade clause. The deal was wisely structured, offering the Raiders a way out of the deal thanks to a low 2023 number of $5.62 million if he is cut or traded within three days of Super Bowl LVII. Carr’s entire 2023 salary ($32.9 million) plus $7.5 million of his 2024 salary is otherwise fully guaranteed for injury, meaning if Carr is injured in the final two weeks, Las Vegas will to be in danger.

Moving on from a healthy Carr this February is certainly financially feasible. It’s also important to note that McDaniels said Carr played “a lot of football,” not a lot of good football in 2022.

Carr has completed 60.8% of his passes in 2022, which is the second-lowest completion percentage of his nine-year career. He has posted a 24-14 touchdown-to-interception ratio, making it two straight seasons in which he has thrown 14 interceptions. His passer rating of 86.3 is also the second-worst of his career.

The much-hyped pairing of Carr and former Fresno State teammate Davante Adams — created by sending first- and second-round picks to Green Bay in exchange for the superstar receiver — hasn’t quite lived up to expectations. . Adams still surpassed 1,000 receiving yards this season and caught 12 touchdowns in 15 games, but the duo has struggled to put together four quarters of quality football on a weekly basis. The story of the Raiders offense has too often been one of an explosive first half, and a quiet final two quarters, with opposing defenses devoting too many resources to eliminating Adams and forcing Carr to produce with his other targets.

That, and the ability to find unlikely ways to lose games has led the Raiders to their current standing at 6-9. As McDaniels said, it’s a disappointing result from a team that was clearly committed to winning in 2022.

Now that postseason chances require a near miracle, McDaniels is accepting reality. The Raiders also placed tight end Chandler Jones and linebacker Denzel Perryman on injured reserve on Wednesday.

“It is what it is,” McDaniels said. “We’re not going to have Chandler there, we’re not going to have Denzel there, so we’ve addressed that at other positions, obviously. The goal is to have a great week of preparation and practice and go out there and to do everything we can to win the game. And that’s what we’re going to try and do. So excited to play at home in front of our fans. We’ve had a good year at home so far, and We’ll try and continue that this week.”

Stidham hasn’t seen more than a handful of snaps in his four-year NFL career. The backup appeared in eight games between 2019 and 2020 with New England, completing 24 of 48 passes for 270 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions before following McDaniels to Las Vegas. He has thrown just 13 passes as a Raider, completing eight of them for 72 yards.