Raiders bench Derek Carr for final two games of regular season

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 24: Derek Carr #4 of the Las Vegas Raiders throws a pass during the first quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Acrisure Stadium on December 24, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Gaelen Morse/Getty Images)

The Las Vegas Raiders are still mathematically alive for a playoff spot with two games remaining, but face San Francisco and Kansas City, and with that in mind, the team has decided to start planning for the off-season.

Step one: Bench Derek Carr.

First-year head coach Josh McDaniels confirmed the move Wednesday. Vegas will start Jarret Stidham this week hosting the Niners, with former Cal quarterback Chase Garbers serving as the backup.

Raiders are benching Derek Carr and turning to Jarrett Stidham as their new starting QB.

Carr has thrown a league-leading 14 interceptions— including three Saturday night during a 13-10 loss to the Steelers.

Stidham has thrown only 61 passes and never has started an NFL game. pic.twitter.com/IJa1LfYGXT

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 28, 2022

Carr has been the starting quarterback since 2014 for the silver-and-black and holds multiple franchise passing records.

He signed a three-year extension this past offseason worth $121.5 Million, but should he be released by mid-February, he would count just $5.625 Million against the Raiders salary cap.

Carr’s benching is part prohibitive for the Raiders, too, as in the event of serious injury these last two games, Carr would be owed the full $32.9 Million of his 2023 salary as well as an additional $7 Million of his 2024 salary.

The Raiders acknowledge the decision to bench Carr helps keep their offseason plans open regarding what to do with their longtime starting quarterback, including releasing Carr, trading him, or having him return, which is still a possibility.

An ESPN story points out Carr has thrown a league-leading 14 interceptions this year in his first season under McDaniels, and his passer rating of 86.3 is his lowest mark since his rookie season.

The Raiders have blown multiple games in which they led by at least double-digits this season, marring a year that has at times looked hopeful for a return to the playoffs.

From NFL Now: Are the #Raiders saying goodbye to Derek Carr? Time will tell. But the #49ers said goodbye to Jimmy Garoppolo, then he became their starter. The NFL is wacky, sometimes. pic.twitter.com/8NLpiIYb1z

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 28, 2022