Kenny Pickett Expected To Start For Las Vegas Raiders In Week 15
If you had “Kenny Pickett Revenge Game” on your 2025 NFL Bingo card, go ahead and mark that square. In a season that has felt more like a slow leak than a tidal wave for Las Vegas, the quarterback carousel is spinning once again. Geno Smith, the 35-year-old veteran who has been trying to hold the ship steady, missed his second consecutive practice on Thursday. Dealing with a nagging shoulder and back injury sustained during last week’s loss to the Broncos, Smith’s absence has opened the door wide open for the backup.
According to sources close to the situation, Pickett is now expected to start this Sunday. And as the football gods would have it, the opponent is none other than the Philadelphia Eagles—Pickett’s former squad.
Pickett Prepares For Emotional Clash With Eagles
Let’s be real for a second: the term “Revenge Game” gets thrown around a little too loosely in sports media. Usually, it implies a superstar returning to crush the team that let them go. In this case, it’s a bit more complicated. Pickett spent a brief stint with the Eagles after his time in Pittsburgh, and now he finds himself leading a 2-11 Raiders team against them.
Regardless of the narrative, this is a massive opportunity for Pickett. He took all the first-team reps in practice this week, a clear signal that Head Coach Pete Carroll is preparing to pivot. Pickett looked decent in relief duty last week against Denver, throwing for 97 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t Mahomes-level magic, but it was competent football. That is something Las Vegas fans are starving for right now.
Geno Smith’s Injury Woes Continue
It’s been a rough go for Geno Smith. The veteran is currently leading the league with 14 interceptions, and his body is starting to pay the price for a long, grueling season. After suffering the injury in the third quarter against Denver, Smith tried to tough it out but eventually had to head to the locker room.
Carroll has officially listed Smith as “day-to-day,” which in NFL coach-speak can mean anything from “he’s fine” to “see you next season.” However, missing back-to-back practices this late in the week usually spells doom for a starter’s availability on Sunday. If Smith can’t go, he’ll be holding the clipboard while Pickett tries to salvage some pride for the Silver and Black.
What This Means For Las Vegas
Here is the awkward truth that no player wants to hear but every fan is thinking: The Raiders are currently staring down the barrel of the No. 2 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
From a front-office perspective, winning right now does more harm than good. But try telling that to the guys in the locker room. Players are playing for their contracts, and coaches are coaching for their jobs. Pickett isn’t worried about draft positioning; he’s worried about proving he belongs as a starter in this league.
Sunday offers a weird, fascinating dynamic. You have a backup quarterback looking for redemption against his old team, a franchise potentially tanking (whether they admit it or not), and a fan base just hoping to see a coherent offensive drive. Grab your popcorn, Raiders fans. It might not be the Super Bowl, but with Pickett under center, it certainly won’t be boring.
