Unlike last week, Geno Smith wasn’t the main reason why the Las Vegas Raiders lost, but he still played very poorly. He threw two interceptions and could’ve had a third if it wasn’t dropped.
The Raiders ended up losing 40-6 to the Indianapolis Colts, and it was obvious very early on that the team was outmatched. One curious decision was to continue to keep Smith out there despite the game being out of reach.
Head coach Pete Carroll explained why they didn’t put in backup quarterback Kenny Pickett.
“Here’s the reason why I didn’t do that: We need to stay out there and keep practicing,” Carroll said when asked if there was a thought to bench Smith for Pickett. “We need to keep practicing, we need the reps, we need the turns, we need to run the system, we need to feel it, we need to see the guys get the opportunities to improve.
“I thought about it because there was a chance to do that. … That’s not what’s necessary. We need to get better and get right, so these are the games that we’re working on, and these are the games that we learn from and grow from so that we can change the course of the way games are going.”
Seems Like Raiders Are Unlikely to Make QB Change
Many fans are ready to see Smith sent to the bench in favor of Pickett. He’s been one of the worst quarterbacks in the NFL and has a league-high nine interceptions in just five games.
However, the fact that the Raiders wouldn’t even bench Smith for Pickett in the Colts’ loss would suggest that they’re not considering making a move yet. Once the team decides to make that move, it will be hard to go back, and Smith is making a lot of money.
Pickett isn’t a world-beater, so the bigger implications of starting him might not be worth the potential gains. At the same time, Carroll can’t keep preaching his “compete” mindset if he’s going to keep letting a quarterback play so poorly without making a change. If Smith can’t have a good game against a really bad Tennessee Titans team in Week 6, then Carroll might not have a choice.
Carroll Struggling to Process Rough Start
Not many expected the Raiders to be a great team in 2025, but a lot of projections saw the team winning at least seven to 10 games this season. As of right now, they look like a team that could win just three or four games this season.
Carroll was vocal this offseason about how he expected the Raiders to compete for a playoff spot this year. He was honest about how he’s struggling to process this poor start.
“I’m processing it poorly to tell you the truth, because I did expect it to win right out of the chutes,” Carroll said.
Carroll has never had a season where his team lost fewer than six games. If things don’t get better soon, there’s a very good chance he’s going to have his worst season as a head coach.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Raiders HC Pete Carroll Tries to Explain Baffling Geno Smith Decision appeared first on Heavy Sports.