Raiders Noncommittal On Starting QB Against Texans

NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport announced on Twitter that the Raiders are “going forward with the expectation that QB Connor Cook starts vs. #Texans, sources say”.

Enter Cook, who will make his first career National Football League start.in a road playoff game, against the Texans’ No. 2-ranked pass defense.

Oakland looked poised for a Super Bowl run until Carr suffered a broken fibula in a Week 16 game against the Indianapolis Colts. Matt McGloin got a shoulder injury yesterday during Sunday’s game vs The Broncos. Who will win? How can they win? Osweiler’s replacement, Tom Savage, sustained a concussion against the Titans this past weekend and has yet to be cleared. Lindley got the start in the final two games of the regular season and was promptly dismissed in the playoffs by Cam Newton’s Panthers. Anyone? Anyone?! Unless you are a Texans or Raiders fan, you’re probably going to take a hard pass on this one, which is why ESPN will reportedly lose $75 million by televising this wild card matchup.

Why they’ll win: Perhaps Cook surprises everyone and leads the Raiders to a win. Lamar Miller, RB – Houston Texans As good as the Raiders have been defending the pass, their rushing defense has left a lot to be desired. They’ve been thrown into the fire without a safety net, no weak teams to ease a transition to the starting lineup. There was no media access, as a result, permissible only because the team designated Tuesday as a walkthrough only and not a full practice. Cook was an interesting draft case, once touted as a high first-round pick who was passed over repeatedly until the Raiders took him in the fourth round. He finished 14/21 for 150 yards and a touchdown, but was picked off once and lost a fumble.

“I can’t wait to see him play this week”, receiver Michael Crabtree said before practice. “I think he’s very capable of doing that”. And I don’t see that happening.

“That’s the worst thing you can do for an offense that’s playing with a new quarterback”, Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said.

In my opinion, Raiders should invest a reasonable amount of time in Cook and Gilbert (depending on if they sign him and if McGloin is healthy).