The Las Vegas Raiders will host the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium with just two quarterbacks on the active roster following Tuesday's trade of Kirk Cousins to Minnesota. Rookie Fernando Mendoza will make his first NFL start, backed up by Aidan O'Connell.
Coach Klint Kubiak acknowledged the team has contingency plans but declined to reveal them. "We have a plan," Kubiak said. "We've got Aidan (if Mendoza is injured) and then we've got to go to Plan C. Not going to tell you Plan C." He said discussions have taken place about adding a third quarterback, likely to the practice squad.
A strong candidate to fill that role is Jacob Clark, an undrafted rookie from Minnesota and Missouri State who spent the offseason with the Raiders before being released during final cuts in August. Clark has not signed with another NFL team since his release.
If both Mendoza and O'Connell were injured Sunday, the Raiders have several players with limited quarterback experience. Receiver Tre Tucker and running back Dylan Laube played the position in high school, while fullback Connor Heyward has taken snaps in short-yardage situations. Punter AJ Cole is 2-for-2 for 47 yards in his career, though the team would likely hesitate to risk one of the league's top punters.
The Raiders received positive injury news elsewhere: starting right guard Trey Zuhn III has cleared concussion protocol and will start. Receivers Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Malik Benson, safeties Tristin McCollum and Dalton Johnson, offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue and defensive tackle Thomas Booker IV are inactive. Thornton missed Friday's practice with a back injury.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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