Las Vegas Raiders Bench longtime starting quarterback Derek Carr in a shocking move on Wednesday, and the fallout was swift.
After the news was announced, Carr was not seen at a Raiders practice. Then, NFL Media insider Ian Rapoport reported that the 31-year-old quarterback has been away from the team indefinitely as starting quarterback Garrett Stidham takes over.
“As part of discussions over the past few days, both sides concluded it was best for Raiders QB Derek Carr to stay away from the final two games to avoid obvious distractions, sources say,” said Rapoport. He will not be training and will be listed as ‘unrelated to injury’.
Coach Josh McDaniels’ move to Stidham was surprising. Las Vegas is still technically alive for the last spot in the AFC playoffs (although the chances are slim if not non-existent). Carr is a nine-year veteran who has started 142 games for the Raiders since entering the league, winning three Pro Bowl nods and taking the team to the playoffs twice. Former Cal quarterback Chase Garbers will support Stidham.
He has no guaranteed money left on his contract and the team could exit his deal with a limited-time cap in 2023, leading many to believe Carr played his last shots with the team. If he sustains a serious injury in the last two matches, some of his remaining salary will be guaranteed.
“Obviously, I don’t think anyone was excited about that here,” he said. Davant Adams said, Carr’s former college teammate at Fresno State, whom the team traded first and second round picks in the offseason. “He’s one of my really loyal friends and the reason I came here in the first place.
“I’m not going to sit here and carry on but obviously I support my man. We have to finish this season in the best way we can, all things considered at this point.”
Adams expanded on his Instagram with a photo of the two wearing Fresno State outfits, captioning it: “This guy gave it his all. The reason I’m a Ryder…one of the most disciplined and loving people I know. BRODA BACK UP THROUGH ANYTHING AND IF YOU CAN’T Respect him (excuse my language), you!!!”
“Alcohol enthusiast. Twitter ninja. Tv lover. Falls down a lot. Hipster-friendly coffee geek.”