The Las Vegas Raiders fell to 2-11 on the 2025 NFL season after the 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos on December 7 at Allegiant Stadium. Moreover, the discussion will focus on the quarterback situation heading into Week 15.
Geno Smith left the contest in the second half with an injury, and backup quarterback Kenny Pickett took over. The former first-round pick went 8-for-11 on his pass attempts for 97 passing yards and one touchdown.
With Pickett injecting some life into the offense and Smith dealing with an injury, Raiders head coach Pete Carroll received a question over who he’ll go with in Week 15.
“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 Aiden [O’Connell] will be ready to go as well. That’s just the way we deal with it.”
Raiders’ Pete Carroll Talks Kenny Pickett
Despite appearing to lean toward Smith against the Philadelphia Eagles, Carroll noted that he likes some traits about Pickett, 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’t 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.”
It’s Time to See What Kenny Pickett Can Do
Carroll has been loyal to Smith all season, even with his rough play. Nonetheless, it’s time for Pickett to at least get a game in to see if the offense gets a spark from him. The Raiders’ offense again failed to score 20 or more points for a fifth straight game.
While the Broncos’ defense might have taken its foot off the gas, Pickett recorded numbers close to what Smith produced the entire game. Moreover, if Smith is injured or compromised, it hurts the team as they also try to get a look at the young receivers like Jack Bech.
As a result, having someone like Pickett under center might be more ideal for evaluating young talent such as Bech.
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