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Toward the end of Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos, the Las Vegas Raiders reportedly suffered a devastating blow to their offense.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew broke his collarbone and is out for the remainder of the 2024 season.
Minshew went back to the locker room late in the fourth quarter, and the team announced that he was questionable to return due to a shoulder injury. He sat out for the remainder of the game. When asked about Minshew’s injury after the game, head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters, “It doesn’t look good.”
Backup quarterback Desmond Ridder was inserted in Minshew’s place, but he fumbled the ball on his second play:
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Gardner Minshew goes to the locker room with an injury.
The Broncos get to Desmond Ridder and recover the fumble. pic.twitter.com/LJ3bBnvnpS
Las Vegas trailed 26-19 at the time of Minshew’s exit, thrusting Ridder into a high-pressure situation. Unfortunately, his blunder allowed Denver to extend its lead with a field goal and earn a 29-19 win in front of disappointed Raiders fans at Allegiant Stadium.
Before leaving the game, Minshew completed 25 of his 42 passes for 230 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He was sacked three times, and Las Vegas abandoned the run game with a total of just 69 rushing yards on 16 carries. Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix was sharp in front of a road crowd with 273 yards and two touchdowns on 25-of-42 passing.
The loss extended the Raiders’ losing streak to seven straight games and dropped their record to 2-9, tying the Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Giants for the worst in the NFL.
Things won’t be getting much easier for Las Vegas anytime soon, as the team will face the AFC West-leading Kansas City Chiefs (10-1) in a road matchup on Black Friday in a standalone game on Prime Video. Without Minshew, it could be an ugly game for the Raiders in front of a national audience.
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