Quick Hits: Pete Carroll addresses backup quarterback dilemma and depth around team following end of preseason

Aug 24, 2025 at 02:43 PM

Levi Edwards

Digital Team Reporter

Following the preseason finale, Head Coach Pete Carroll addressed the media one last time before the Raiders' initial 53-man roster is finalized.

Not only will there be tough decisions to make, but Carroll confirmed that backup quarterback Aidan O'Connell fractured his wrist Saturday against the Arizona Cardinals and will be out for roughly six to eight weeks.

Here's a look at what Carroll said regarding the team Sunday afternoon.

On his expectations for any upcoming quarterback to be brought in:

"All possibilities are available right now. I mean, wherever they come from, and we're looking everywhere to see if we can find the best guy that fits us. So if you don't mind, I'm not going to really lay out exactly what we're looking for here, so I don't want to show our hand, but I want somebody who's played. That's what's important, a guy that's had game experience is really huge to me."

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On the biggest positive takeaway from preseason:

"They've worked really hard at playing hard, and we've committed to giving great effort every time we go out. And that, throughout the ranks of players, is shown. The message from the leadership of this club is really getting through."

On position groups with the most depth heading into roster cuts:

"I think the tight end position jumps out. I really like that spot. Our running back spot is deep with guys that have played well for us. Linebacker spot has shown we have a variety of guys and styles of players that we can do different things with. The safety position has felt like that as well, and Jamal [Adams] being able to play in a safety's position but from the linebacker meeting room is a special characteristic that we have. I think our corners have played very consistently technique wise and scheme wise, what we're asking them to do. ... I think we could rotate guys there and be comfortable. Those are the spots that kind of jump out."

On the Raiders' first-team offense and defense in preseason:

"They've really done what they went out there to do. They scored touchdowns, they're taking the ball off our opponents, they've stopped them handily and we've looked on fire when we're playing. And that's, to me, something that's really, really good. And so a lot of guys that have been playing these games won't play, and the starters on both sides of the ball, they haven't played a lot, but yet, they have been able to get out there, get prepared for the games and show that they're ready to go. And so, I feel really good about that. I think we're going to be able to match up and I'm excited about wherever we're going, whoever we're playing, that our guys are going to be able to match up."

On Cam Miller's preseason showing:

"He's just a raw kid trying to do it, and he's made some good plays, and he's tough and shows a knack for playing the spot, but he just needs a ton of plays. We'd like to buy some more time with him as much as we could."

On rookie UDFA Greedy Vance:

"He's a playmaker. I went back probably last week to look at his college tapes again just to see if I'm seeing the same stuff here as we saw in college. And he's very aggressive, very instinctive player, and he takes his shots. So he's done that throughout the time in practice. He's made a ton of big plays, and he's a really good competitor, so we've really liked what he's shown."

On third-round pick Darien Porter:

"He's done a good job. He's learned a lot of football. We've challenged him a lot of ways, and I was disappointed that he didn't make a play on the touchdown pass because it was a play in zone that we could have made. So it shows a little bit of inexperience there, but he's done a nice job. He's been working really hard. He's helped us in special teams as well. So he's certainly vying for playing time."

On the competition at right guard:

"I think at this time, JPJ [Jackson Powers-Johnson] has taken so much more time with the ones that he leads us into the opener, but we're really thrilled to have Alex [Cappa], who can play and back us up and give us terrific leadership and communications and all of that, regardless of his injury. That's not going to have anything to do with that. I feel fortunate that we have him, but at this point, JPJ is a little bit ahead, and Alex is going to keep battling. The competition always is on, and so we don't need to settle anything forever."

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Las Vegas Raiders Head Coach Pete Carroll arrives to the preseason away game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium.