Pete Carroll says ‘the competition is on’ at quarterback as Raiders offense continues to struggle.

Raiders head coach Pete Carroll has expressed disappointment with the team’s progress this season, hinting at potential changes in the starting lineup, including the quarterback position. This comes after a disappointing 2-5 start to the 2025 season, leaving Carroll searching for answers to ignite the struggling Raiders offense.

Carroll addressed the quarterback situation specifically when asked about potential roster changes. During the Raiders’ lopsided 31-0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs this past Sunday, Carroll pulled veteran Geno Smith in favor of Kenny Pickett in the game’s later stages. This move has fueled speculation about a potential quarterback competition brewing in Las Vegas.

"We’ll see," Carroll stated, emphasizing the open competition for playing time. "The competition is on and we’re not through thinking that way about opportunities for guys." He further explained his decision to give Pickett some snaps, stating, "I thought it was right to get [Smith] out, and Kenny needs to get some snaps. You know, right off the bat, he screws up, missed the the freaking first snap. But and he just needs some playing time in case we need to call on him so he feels comfortable jumping in."

Pickett’s debut on Sunday was far from ideal, as he fumbled his very first snap, adding to the Raiders’ overall woes against the Chiefs. The Raiders offense was anemic throughout the game, managing a mere three first downs and accumulating only 95 total yards. The team’s inability to generate any meaningful offense has placed the quarterback position under scrutiny.

Geno Smith, the incumbent starter, has faced challenges this season. Despite his Pro Bowl pedigree and previous experience playing under Carroll with the Seattle Seahawks, Smith has struggled with turnovers, throwing a league-high 10 interceptions alongside just seven touchdowns. While he didn’t throw an interception against the Chiefs, Smith was unable to spark the Raiders’ offense, throwing for a meager 67 yards. The absence of key offensive weapons like wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and tight end Brock Bowers, both sidelined with injuries, further hampered the team’s performance.

Kenny Pickett’s appearance against the Chiefs marked his first live game action this season. A former first-round pick, Pickett previously spent two seasons as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback. Last year, he secured a Super Bowl ring as Jalen Hurts’ backup with the Philadelphia Eagles. He was traded to the Cleveland Browns back in March. Pickett was initially slated to be the Browns’ starter this season, but an injury during training camp led to his trade to Las Vegas just before the regular season commenced.

Beyond the quarterback situation, Carroll is seeking improvement across the board when the team returns from its bye week. He expressed his disappointment with the team’s progress, stating, "I’m surprised that we’re not farther along than we are. I thought we would be, and I anticipated being farther along and being cleaner with our game." Carroll emphasized the importance of balanced football, where all three phases of the game – offense, defense, and special teams – contribute to the team’s success and avoid self-inflicted mistakes.

Carroll faces the challenge of transforming a losing culture that has plagued the Raiders’ organization for nearly two decades. Once a dominant force in the NFL, the Raiders have only made the playoffs twice since their last Super Bowl appearance in 2002 and haven’t achieved a winning season since 2021.

Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty echoed this sentiment, stating earlier this week, "If we’re being honest, it’s been losing culture around here for a long time. You have to continue to work to fix that and bring winning back here." Jeanty’s words underscore the magnitude of the task facing Carroll as he attempts to instill a winning mentality and rebuild the Raiders into a competitive force in the NFL. The quarterback competition, and any resulting change, would just be one step in Carroll’s larger goal. The Raiders need to work on all three phases to become a winning team.

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