Raiders Rumors: Gardner Minshew to Remain QB1 over Aidan O'Connell amid HC Comments

One thing that came from the Las Vegas Raiders' stunning 36-22 home loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday was questions about who would be the AFC West team's starting quarterback moving forward.

But it reportedly didn't take long to settle on an answer.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported Monday the team is "sticking with" Gardner Minshew and will not turn toward Aidan O'Connell.

The report comes after head coach Antonio Pierce didn't exactly offer much clarity.

"I think we've gotta get with the players and just evaluate everything from yesterday first," he said when discussing whether it meant anything for the future that he replaced Minshew with O'Connell in Sunday's loss, per ESPN's Paul Gutierrez.

Carolina was in control throughout the game and extended its lead to 33-7 early in the fourth quarter.

While Minshew threw a touchdown pass to Jakobi Meyers to cut into that deficit, Pierce decided to finish the game with O'Connell under center. He told reporters he made the switch to "give us a spark" in the moment.

Minshew finished 18-of-28 for 214 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while O'Connell went 9-of-12 for 82 yards, one touchdown and zero interceptions. It should be noted the Panthers were in control by the time O'Connell entered the game, so the defensive looks were likely different.

But it's not as if Minshew has been dominant through three games this season.

He has three touchdown passes to three interceptions and has been sacked 11 times. While the Raiders impressed in a win over the Baltimore Ravens, they are also just 1-2 and managed a total of 10 points in the opening loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

O'Connell also has recent experience to fall back on, as he went 5-5 as a starter while throwing for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions last season. Nobody was mistaking him for Tom Brady, but it was solid work for a rookie who was a fourth-round draft pick.

Next up for Las Vegas is a home game against a Cleveland Browns team that just gave up 236 passing yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions to a previously struggling Daniel Jones in a loss to the New York Giants, so Minshew will have a chance to eliminate any doubt about his starting role against a vulnerable secondary.

If he struggles, the questions will only get louder.