The Las Vegas Raiders are playing the long game, in a short period. After over 9 years with the team, it seems that veteran QB Derek Carr is on his way out. This speculation comes after the decision to bench him for the final two games. Backup Jarrett Stidham and practice squad QB Chase Garbers will be on the active roster for the next 2 weeks.
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Carr’s performance this season has been a bit disappointing. Barely completing 55% of his passes, he only has 6 TDs to his name and 7 interceptions. Having made the playoffs last season, the team would have been expecting to repeat that feat this year as well. Only to fail tragically. Sitting in 12th in the AFC, they need far too many teams to fail to even make the wildcard spot, an unlikely feat.
Perhaps the player most affected by this decision, apart from Carr, is receiver Davante Adams. Adams turned down a contract extension from his former team, the Green Bay Packers, earlier this year to come to Las Vegas. Mainly, because he thought Packers’ QB Aaron Rodgers would leave in a year or two. What sweetened the decision for him, is he got to play with his college teammate, Derek Carr.
Raiders’ to cut Derek Carr from the team, bench him to avoid massive payout
The Raiders’ decision to not play Carr is not very difficult to understand, once you take a look at his contract. The idea is very simple: He has a $32.9 million salary in 2023, apart from a $7.5 million injury payout. In the odd chance he gets injured in the remaining two games, and does not get better before day 3 of the waiver period, they’ll have to hand him the $40.2 million without any question.
On another note, this gives the Raiders an opportunity to finally analyze Stidham as a starting QB. Stidham and head coach Josh McDaniels previously partnered for 3 years at the New England Patriots. So the coordination between them will be unmatched, and it’ll hopefully show on the field against the San Francisco 49ers in their next game.
As for Adams, he’ll most likely be rethinking his future with the Vegas outfit as well. With his main motivation to come to Vegas gone, it will be no surprise if he announces he’ll follow suit. Adam’s connection with Carr goes way back to their college days, and that connection could surely help them become a threatening pair. If Carr can get his act together, that is.
