Raiders bench Minshew, name O'Connell QB1

The Las Vegas Raiders will start quarterback Aidan O'Connell against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, coach Antonio Pierce announced Wednesday.

O'Connell replaced Gardner Minshew, who had started the Raiders' first five games.

Minshew, who signed a two-year free agent deal with the Raiders with $15 million guaranteed, won a close training camp battle but was inconsistent in five starts, completing 70.7% of his passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns, but with five interceptions. II with a 100-yard pick-six that changed the momentum in Sunday's loss to the Broncos.

Pierce installed O'Connell as the starter last season when he took over as interim coach, and the then-rookie finished the season with a flourish: eight touchdowns and no interceptions in the team's final four games.