The Las Vegas Raiders dropped to 2-11 on the 2025 NFL season after a 24-17 defeat to the Denver Broncos on December 7 at Allegiant Stadium.
Attention now turns to the quarterback situation as Week 15 approaches. Geno Smith exited in the second half with an injury, allowing backup Kenny Pickett to step in. The former first-round pick completed 8 of 11 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, bringing a spark to the offense.
With Pickett showing promise and Smith recovering from his injury, uncertainty remains over who will start for Las Vegas against the Philadelphia Eagles. Nonetheless, for former Raiders offensive tackle Lincoln Kennedy, the decision is a simple one for the Silver and Black.
“You need Kenny Pickett’s mobility,” Kennedy said on the December 8 edition of the “Locked on Raiders” podcast. “With that being said, I want to see what the young man has.
“I mean, I want to see what the former first-round talent has; I know he’s been injured and been on several teams, but I want to see what he has. I know that Aiden O’Connell behind this makeshift offensive line I don’t think he would do well.”
Pete Carroll Remains Loyal to Raiders QB Geno Smith
After the Raiders’ loss to the Broncos, the media didn’t waste time asking head coach Pete Carroll who he’ll go with in Week 15. Despite Pickett’s showing, if Smith is healthy, that’s all that matters to the Las Vegas coach.
“Let me just wait and see what happens,” Carroll told reporters postgame. “I’m going to do what I think is the right thing to do. If Geno can play, that’s my thought. But I know Kenny can play. Our players understood it, too. Kenny did a good job. They recognize that he might pull the game.
“I’m hoping for Geno to get back out there and see how he does, but we’re not going to play if he’s not right. Kenny will be ready to go, and Aidan [O’Connell] will be ready to go as well. That’s just the way we deal with it.”
Kenny Pickett Gets Praise Despite Being a Backup
Despite appearing to lean toward Smith against the Eagles, Carroll noted that he likes some of Pickett’s traits, should the backup get the call to start.
“I’ve seen a lot of Kenny in practice when they always come back to that,” Carroll added. “He’s active, he’s quick, he’s really athletic, he’s a good thinker. He’s a really clearly competitive guy that gets situational football and knows what’s going on…
“But his mentality, and I’m coaching the hell out of him because I want him to be ready if the opportunity pops. This is exactly how we did it with Geno for years. However long it takes for the opportunity, he’s going to be ready to go.
“He’s got enough stuff to him. His athleticism, I keep in mind, use your legs and run because he’s really quick. He can explode, get in the secondary, make things happen. It’s often helpful to him trying to make him see his way. I’m really positive about him. I love that he’s on our team.”
Nonetheless, the only way the player will display his abilities to signal that he can be the starter for the rest of the season will be if Smith cannot go on December 14.
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