The Raiders are making a change under center this week - and it’s not by choice.
Veteran quarterback Geno Smith is expected to miss the team’s Week 15 matchup against the Eagles due to a shoulder injury. Smith didn’t practice today, and all signs point to Kenny Pickett stepping in as the starter against his former team.
Pickett took over for Smith late in last week’s game after the injury, and now he’ll get the nod in a pivotal late-season contest. So far this season, Pickett has seen limited action, completing 10 of 14 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown without turning the ball over. Small sample size, sure, but he’s looked sharp in relief duty - and now he’s got a shot to show what he can do with a full week of prep and the keys to the offense.
As for Smith, the 35-year-old has had a long, winding road through the NFL. Drafted by the Jets in the second round back in 2013, he bounced around with the Giants and Chargers before landing in Seattle in 2019. It took a few years of backup duty, but Smith finally got his shot in 2022 and made the most of it, earning a three-year, $105 million extension from the Seahawks in 2023.
That deal carried into this season, but Seattle decided to move on, trading Smith to the Raiders in exchange for a third-round pick. Las Vegas followed up with a new two-year, $75 million extension, banking on Smith to be the veteran presence under center.
Through 13 games this season, Smith has put up solid - if uneven - numbers. He’s completed 67 percent of his passes for 2,648 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. The turnovers have been an issue, but he’s also kept the Raiders competitive and brought stability to a position that’s been anything but stable for the franchise in recent years.
Now, with Smith sidelined, it’s Pickett’s turn.
The 27-year-old was a first-round pick by the Steelers in 2022, coming off a standout college career at Pitt where he earned ACC Player of the Year honors and finished third in Heisman voting. He signed a standard rookie deal with Pittsburgh, but after an up-and-down stint, he was traded to the Eagles last season.
Pickett’s path since then has been anything but straightforward. He appeared in five games for the Eagles in 2024, making one start and completing 25 of 42 passes for 291 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.
He also added a rushing score. The Browns then acquired him this past offseason but declined his fifth-year option, and he was shipped to Las Vegas following the preseason.
Now, he’s back in the spotlight - and facing the team that briefly held his rights just a year ago.
It’s a full-circle moment for Pickett, but more importantly, it’s a crucial opportunity. The Raiders are still in the playoff hunt, and a strong showing could go a long way in shaping the rest of their season - and possibly Pickett’s future in silver and black.