Kenny Pickett won a Super Bowl ring as the Philadelphia Eagles’ backup quarterback. Less than a year later, he’s in line to start against his former team at Lincoln Financial Field.
Pickett is expected to fill in for Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith, who, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, is unlikely to start Sunday because of a right shoulder injury.
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Smith, 35, won’t practice Wednesday, per Rapoport. The one-time NFL Comeback Player of the Year and two-time Pro Bowler exited a 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos this past Sunday at the end of the third quarter.
Raiders head coach Pete Carroll told reporters, per ESPN, that Smith’s shoulder “locked up” when the veteran got hit while delivering a 3-yard pass to tight end Brock Bowers. Pickett, a 2022 first-round pick who has been traded three times since the end of the 2024 season, replaced Smith for the entire fourth quarter, during which he completed 8-of-11 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Las Vegas is 2-11 and has been slumping to dead last in the AFC West with seven straight defeats. The Raiders traded for Smith this past offseason and signed him to a two-year, $75 million extension. That move reunited Smith with Carroll, whom he resurrected his career with in Seattle.
Smith hasn’t enjoyed the same success in Vegas, though. A struggling Raiders offensive line has made life hard for the 2013 second-round pick and New York Jets castaway. Smith has taken 49 sacks, tied with Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Cam Ward for the most in the NFL this season. Smith is also tied with the Miami Dolphins’ Tua Tagovailoa for the most interceptions in the league, with 14 thrown through 13 games.
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Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly was fired midseason. He was let go after the Raiders’ Week 12 loss to the Cleveland Browns, who sacked Smith 10 times. After that game, a frustrated Smith, who was even booed pregame, flipped off fans in Allegiant Stadium.
If Pickett does in fact get the nod Sunday in Philadelphia, he’ll try to spark a Raiders offense that hasn’t scored more than 17 points since a 30-29 overtime loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9.
This story is being updated.