In a disappointing debut as the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, Kenny Pickett faced his former team, the Philadelphia Eagles, and struggled significantly. The Raiders were overpowered in a 31-0 defeat at Lincoln Financial Field.
With Geno Smith sidelined due to a shoulder injury, Pickett was expected to inject some life into the Raiders” offense following a touchdown pass the previous week. However, his performance was far from stellar, as he managed to throw for only 64 yards and recorded an interception, resulting in a passer rating of 47.9 against a formidable Eagles defense.
The New Jersey native, who was a standout at Pitt and a first-round pick by the Steelers in 2022, had been traded to the Eagles prior to the 2024 season after two inconsistent years in Pittsburgh. During his time in Philadelphia, he served as a backup to Jalen Hurts throughout their Super Bowl run.
After being traded by the Cleveland Browns this offseason, Pickett took on the backup role behind Smith in Las Vegas. Unfortunately, the Raiders” plans for a team overhaul have not materialized as hoped, leading to concerns about Pickett”s future playing time following this disappointing outing.
Should Smith remain unavailable due to his injury, Pickett may get further opportunities in upcoming games, giving him a chance to rebound from this lackluster performance.
Nick Farabaugh, the Pittsburgh Steelers beat writer for PennLive.com, has been covering the team and its developments for four seasons. His insights continue to shed light on the ongoing narratives surrounding the Steelers and their former players.
