Who Should I Start? Geno Smith or Derek Carr

Monday, December 8, 6:48 PM

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said that he didn't have an update on Monday on quarterback Geno Smith's right-shoulder injury that he suffered in the second half of Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN. "I won't know for a couple of days," Carroll said. Smith injured his fingers and shoulder in Week 14, but it was his right-shoulder injury that knocked him out of the game in the second half, and he never returned. The 35-year-old apparently avoided serious damage to his throwing shoulder, but the lack of an update suggests Smith's availability for Week 15 against the Philadelphia Eagles is up in the air. At this point, it wouldn't be a surprise to see the struggling Raiders give backup Kenny Pickett his first start of the year against his former team. Smith has been a bust in his first year in Vegas, completing 67% of his passes for 2,648 yards and 16 touchdowns. He leads the league in interceptions (16) and sacks taken (49).

Friday, June 6, 12:23 PM

Former New Orleans Saints and Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (shoulder) made a surprising decision to hang up his cleats and retire from the NFL this offseason. "That part was tough because I didn't want to have surgery and just sit there and it sounds crazy but just take the Saints money," Carr said. He had two seasons left on the four-year, $150 million deal he signed with the Saints in 2023, although he gave up the $30 million salary he was set to earn in 2025. The four-time Pro Bowler was dealing with a right-shoulder injury that was going to require surgery and leave his availability uncertain for the start of the regular season this fall. Carr said the Saints wanted him to keep playing, but he couldn't commit to another season. With Carr now gone, the Saints will have a QB competition this summer, primarily between rookie second-rounder Tyler Shough and Spencer Rattler.