With starting quarterback Geno Smith sidelined by a shoulder injury, former first-round pick Kenny Pickett is poised to take the helm for the struggling Las Vegas Raiders, creating an unexpected, high-stakes audition that could reshape both his career and the team’s offseason plans.
The landscape of the Las Vegas Raiders‘ quarterback room has been abruptly redrawn. Starting quarterback Geno Smith did not participate in practice for the second consecutive day, nursing a right shoulder injury that now casts serious doubt on his availability for Sunday’s game against the Philadelphia Eagles. In his place, Kenny Pickett has taken all the first-team snaps, thrusting the journeyman quarterback into the most significant opportunity of his turbulent career.
This is far more than a standard backup-takes-over scenario. For a Raiders team spiraling with a 2-11 record and a seven-game losing streak, the remainder of the season is about evaluation. Smith’s injury, described by coach Pete Carroll as a “jammed” throwing shoulder, has inadvertently opened the door for a live-fire audition for a quarterback the team acquired as an afterthought.
A Spark in a Bleak Season
The change was set in motion during last Sunday’s 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos. After Smith was injured in the third quarter, Pickett entered the game and provided a rare spark for the Raiders’ offense. He was efficient and decisive, completing 8 of 11 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown pass. His performance didn’t go unnoticed in the locker room.
“He came in with some good energy. He was able to put some points on the board — just execution,” Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty said of Pickett’s relief appearance. “He practices well. Whether he goes or not (Sunday), I know he’ll work hard and be ready.”
The Tumultuous Journey of a Former First-Rounder
For Pickett, this moment is a chance to find stable ground after a career defined by constant upheaval. The Pittsburgh Steelers made him the 20th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, hoping the University of Pittsburgh star would be their next franchise quarterback. After two seasons and a respectable 15-10 record as a starter, he was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles to back up Jalen Hurts.
His stop in Philadelphia was brief. The Eagles traded him to the Cleveland Browns, who then proceeded to draft two other quarterbacks and sign veteran Joe Flacco, making Pickett expendable. The Raiders acquired him after training camp, seemingly to fill a depth role. Now, he’s on the verge of starting, a testament to the unpredictable nature of the NFL.
What This Means for the Raiders and Geno Smith
While this is an opportunity for Pickett, it marks another disappointing chapter in Geno Smith‘s first season in Las Vegas. The 35-year-old veteran was brought in to stabilize the position after his career renaissance in Seattle, which included winning the 2022 NFL Comeback Player of the Year award. Instead, his season has been plagued by inconsistency. He has passed for 2,648 yards and 16 touchdowns, but his 14 interceptions are tied for the most in the NFL.
With the playoffs a mathematical impossibility, the Raiders’ focus shifts to 2026. These final games are crucial for general manager Tom Telesco to assess every piece of the roster. Pickett’s performance against the Eagles will provide invaluable data. Is he a capable long-term backup? Can he challenge for a starting role? Or is he simply another name in the long list of quarterbacks who have passed through Las Vegas?
Sunday’s game is no longer just another contest in a lost season. It’s a critical evaluation for a player desperate to prove he belongs and for a franchise desperate to find a path forward. The spotlight now belongs to Kenny Pickett.
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