Raiders Expected To Start Kenny Pickett Against His Former Team Due To Geno Smith Injury

The Las Vegas Raiders have just two wins this season, and their hopes of winning another game continue to diminish with each passing week. 

In the Week 14 loss to the Denver Broncos, quarterback Geno Smith exited early due to hand and shoulder injuries, and Kenny Pickett entered the game. 

Smith went 13-of-21 for 116 yards and a score before the exit, but he was sacked three times. Pickett went 8-of-11 for 97 yards and a score, and the Raiders lost a close game, 24-17. 

Still, QB questions remained, and now there was an update on the Smith injury front on Wednesday. 

"#Raiders QB Geno Smith, dealing with a shoulder injury, is considered unlikely to start on Sunday, sources say. He won’t practice today. That would put Kenny Pickett in line to start against the #Eagles, his former team," Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported. 

So, it looks like Pickett will start for the 2-11 Raiders against the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, which also turns out to be Pickett's former team. 

Pickett was with the Eagles in 2024 as a backup but was traded to the Cleveland Browns in the offseason, only to be sent to Las Vegas before the regular season. 

In three games with the Raiders, Pickett has thrown for just 105 yards with one touchdown, but he had just three pass attempts prior to replacing Smith against the Broncos in Week 14.