Raiders starting quarterback to miss Sunday’s game against Eagles

Quarterback Geno Smith has been ruled out of Sunday’s road game against the Eagles, clearing the way for Kenny Pickett to make his first start for the Raiders.

Coach Pete Carroll confirmed Smith’s status after Friday’s practice, shortly before the team departed for Philadelphia.

“Kenny’s going to play,” Carroll said. “Geno won’t make it back. He tried, but couldn’t get it done in this amount of time. He has a really good chance to be back next week, but Kenny’s going to take the lead.”

Smith missed his third session of the week Friday as he deals with back and right shoulder injuries. Carroll said the back is the more problematic issue at the moment.

Carroll remains hopeful Smith could return for next week’s game at Houston.

“It seems like it’s on track,” he said. “This trip happens to be 10 hours almost on a plane and the weather and all that. It’s a lower-back issue that he’s concerned about, and just doesn’t seem like it would behoove him moving forward. So, we’re going to take care of him and not put him through that.”

Struggling starter

Smith has struggled in his first season with the Raiders, as he is tied for the NFL lead in interceptions (14) with Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa.

Smith has completed 266 of 397 attempts for 2,648 yards and 16 touchdowns, putting together a 2-11 record and losing the past seven games.

Pickett, the backup quarterback on the Eagles’ championship team last season, was solid in relief last week for the Raiders.

He went 8-for-11 for 97 yards and a touchdown and led the Raiders to 10 points in the final 2:14.

“It was great to get in there, a good stepping stone to build on,” he said Friday. “First time really getting some real action and put a quarter of work together, so that was a positive. But we have to win games and that’s what it comes down to.”

Homecoming

Carroll said Pickett has embraced the role of starter throughout the week of practice.

“He’s done everything we could ask of him and he had an excellent week,” Carroll said. “He’s in command of what we’re doing. Communication is good and all of that. And he’s got a little east coast in him, so that won’t hurt. We’ll support him in every way we can to have a good game.”

Quarterbacks coach and offensive play-caller Greg Olson said he took a lot of positives from Pickett’s effort in the loss to the Broncos.

“He had, I think, six or seven completions in a row down the stretch,” Olson said. “He managed it in a very difficult situation. He had two two-minute situations and scored 10 points. So, it was good to see. He’s had some rapport, obviously, with (Shedrick Jackson) running the show team and the scout team in practice over the last six months.

“He’s just done a good job and just stayed involved.”

Pickett, a first-round pick out of Pitt in 2022, has started 25 of the 33 games in which he has played. His teams have a 15-10 record in those games. He has been part of three organizations over the past 12 months, signing in Clevleand in the offseason before the Browns traded him to the Raiders in training camp.

“It’s been a crazy year, to say the least,” he said. “Bouncing around a little bit. But I have a great support system with my family, my wife and my friends. I’m just grateful to have an opportunity and I definitely have a really good outlook on it. I’ve worked hard and prepared, so I’m just going to go out there and cut loose on Sunday.”

Pickett grew up in Ocean Township, New Jersey, less than 80 miles from Philadelphia. He said his dad and wife have been handling the expected deluge of ticket requests.

“They let me focus on football, but I’m excited to see a lot of people back home I haven’t seen in awhile after the game,” he said.

Aidan O’Connell will serve as the backup to Pickett on Sunday. Carroll declined comment on whether rookie sixth-round pick Cam Miller would be elevated from the practice squad to serve as the emergency quarterback.

Bachman, Miller also out

Wide receiver Alex Bachman has also been ruled out and left tackle Kolton Miller will not be activated from injured reserve before Sunday’s game.

Carroll said he hopes to see Miller ramp up his activity next week and potentially return from a hairline fracture in his ankle.

Safety Jeremy Chinn (back), offensive lineman Jordan Meredith (foot) and tight end Ian Thomas (calf) are all questionable for the game.

Wide receiver Dont’e Thornton (concussion) and tight end Michael Mayer (ankle) are set to return after getting in full practices on Friday. Neither will carry a gameday designation into Sunday.

Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.