Raiders Rumors: Gardner Minshew's Status as QB1 'Very Fluid' amid Adams Trade Buzz

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew may be expected to make his fifth straight start on Sunday against the Denver Broncos, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler expects his ranking over backup Aidan O'Connell to remain "very fluid" as the season progresses and the team prepares to deal with star wideout Davante Adams' reported trade request.

"The Raiders are taking the season by quarters, and they knew Minshew would be better for the first quarter because of the elite pass rushes they faced. He's more mobile than Aidan O'Connell," Fowler wrote. "Who's better for the second and third quarters?"

Fowler added that Minshew would "probably" keep his starting job after leading the Raiders to a 20-16 win over the visiting Cleveland Browns last Sunday, but that his play going forward could determine his ability to keep the QB1 job.

Minshew will face a tough opponent this weekend in the Broncos, who rank top four in the NFL in passing defense through four games.

He may have to face that challenge without Adams, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury for Week 4 before NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported that he had requested a trade ahead of Week 5.

Despite the missed game, Adams remains tied for the team lead after four weeks with 27 targets. He made 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown before requesting the trade.

His possible absence would put more pressure on receivers Jakobi Meyer and Tre Tucker, while tight end Brock Bowers would likely continue to receive more targets.

Minshew has meanwhile led the Raiders to a 2-2 season-opening record while completing 70.7 percent of his passes, although he ranks in the middle of the league with 877 passing yards and has thrown three touchdowns for three interceptions.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters after Sunday's win that there was "still improvement there for Gardner, our offense, and the team."

"We know there were opportunities there that we wish we could have and make them. There were some throws last night— we make them and maybe that game gets wide open early on," Pierce said. "But we don't, and we got to do a better job of doing it."

The Raiders' offensive line has also allowed 13 sacks of Minshew through four games, and the team ranks behind only the Dallas Cowboys with 305 rushing yards on the season.

Minshew did not throw for a touchdown against the Browns on Sunday, but he was able to help the Raiders revive their run game as Las Vegas recorded 154 total rushing yards on 27 carries, including seven runs for at least ten yards.

With Adams' participation questionable going forward, the Raiders will need to rely on running backs Alexander Mattison and Zamir White more than ever. If Minshew's handoffs help spark more offense from Mattison and White, he could bolster his case for remaining QB1 amid his struggles with passing accuracy.

The Raiders entered the 2024 campaign unsure as to who would start, to the point that both Minshew and O'Connell were listed as QB1 on the first unofficial depth chart of the preseason. Minshew may have won the job and at least the first four starts, but it sounds like some of that uncertainty has lingered throughout the team's 2-2 start.