Raiders' Gardner Minshew Benched for Aidan O'Connell amid Struggles vs. Broncos

The Las Vegas Raiders benched starting quarterback Gardner Minshew in favor of Aidan O'Connell during the third quarter of Sunday's matchup against the Denver Broncos.

Minshew was just 12-of-17 passing for 137 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in the contest, taking two sacks. He was yet again without his top option at receiver in Davante Adams.

One of those interceptions was a potential 14-point swing, however, as Patrick Surtain II took it 100 yards for the pick-six. Those are the sorts of moments that can cost a team the game.

Minshew, 28, has been up-and-down this season. Coming into Sunday he had thrown for 877 yards, three touchdowns and three interceptions, completing 70.7 percent of his passes while taking 13 sacks. The Raiders, meanwhile, were 2-2.

The team was beat up coming into Week 4, with Adams, running back Zamir White and tight end Michael Mayer among the inactives.

As for the immediate future of the quarterback position, the 26-year-old O'Connell didn't look great last season in an extended look, throwing for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions while completing 62.1 percent of his passes and taking 24 sacks in parts of 11 games. He also had an interception after being inserted into the game on Sunday.

The Raiders are likely going to have to address the quarterback position in the offseason through the draft. Fans of the team are likely scouting college quarterbacks like Shedeur Sanders, Carson Beck, Quinn Ewers, Cam Ward and Jalen Milroe in earnest at this point.