There is absolutely, positively, not a quarterback competition in Las Vegas. At least at the top of the depth chart. With Derek Carr under center, the Raiders and new head coach Josh McDaniels can turn to one of the league’s top quarterbacks when the regular season begins.
But there might be a battle looming for the backup role behind him, with Jarrett Stidham, Nick Mullens and Chase Garbers vying for that position. Both Mullens and Stidham saw action in the first half of the Hall of Fame Game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and was the Raiders built a 20-0 lead that they took into the halftime break, it was Stidham who delivered one of the game’s two touchdowns, coming on this scramble before halftime:
.@Raiders QB @Jarrett_Stidham takes it in himself!
📺: @ProFootballHOF Game on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/N8g52F6fon pic.twitter.com/ri7CwX7Na0— NFL (@NFL) August 5, 2022
Stidham catches Jacksonsville in man coverage, and with the routes all working across the field from right-to-left, a huge amount of space opened up along the sideline, which the quarterback exploits for six.
That play caught the eye of the man Stidham is looking to backup this season:
.@derekcarrQB absolutely loved this move from @Jarrett_Stidham 😄
📺: @ProFootballHOF Game on NBC
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/N8g52F6fon pic.twitter.com/UqUyOrGGn9— NFL (@NFL) August 5, 2022
Stidham is one of a handful of players, along with Jakob Johnson and Brandon Bolden, that played under McDaniels the past few seasons in New England with the Patriots. McDaniels knows all three players well, and knows what they can do in his offense. That, plus plays like this from Stidham, could give him the inside track to indeed winning that backup job.
