Raiders benching Derek Carr to preserve QB's health over potential offseason trade
It appears that Derek Carr and the Las Vegas Raiders are torpedoing toward a separation. Having spent eight years with the organization, it looks like things are in the works to move on from the 31-year-old.
Why you say? Well, the Raiders, still with two games left in the season, have benched the veteran quarterback and according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, Las Vegas has done this on purpose to preserve Carr's health amid a potential trade in the offseason.
Sources: #Raiders have benched Derek Carr in part to preserve his health for a potential trade this offseason. Don't want to risk injury, and his market could heat up after the Super Bowl, sources say, though option to stay still on the table.
"Sources: #Raiders have benched Derek Carr in part to preserve his health for a potential trade this offseason. Don't want to risk injury, and his market could heat up after the Super Bowl, sources say, though option to stay still on the table." - Jeremy Fowler
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For fans on the outside, this might come as a shock, but for some Raiders fans, the jury has been out on the quarterback for a while. With the playoffs no longer possible, this is a chance to get a look at Jarrett Stidham for the final two games.
It certainly feels like Carr's time with the Raiders could be coming to an end and with a host of teams in need of a quarterback, there will be no shortage of suitors for the 31-year-old this offseason.
Carr's struggles pave the way for potential trade this offseason
Sitting at 6-9 with two games remaining is not what the Raiders organization had planned with the addition of receiver Davante Adams to the offense. Many expected Carr to take a leap forward with the star wide out linking up in Las Vegas, but it appears it has gone the other way.
The quarterback's stats make for grim reading. Through 15 games, he has a 6-9 record, has thrown for just 3,522 passing yards (a whopping 1,282 fewer than last year, the second-lowest of his career), has his worst completion percentage since 2015 (60.8) and has a joint career-high of interceptions (14).
Just looking at those stats, we get an understanding of perhaps why Josh McDaniels wants to potentially move on from the veteran. The Raiders currently hold the ninth pick in the draft. So. there is potential to get a star player but in order to do so, its franchise quarterback may have to be moved.