Raiders coach addresses job status for 2025: ‘I’m under contract’
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Tuesday his interactions with owner Mark Davis remain upbeat despite the team’s 10-game losing streak.
The club’s poor results have put Pierce’s job status into question.
“Me and Mark Davis talk often, and the conversations have been the same as they always are, very positive,” Pierce said.
The Raiders are tied for the NFL’s worst record at 2-12. Pierce, when asked if he believes he will return next year, said “I’m under contract.”
Davis said last week at the NFL owners meetings in Dallas he will wait until the end of the season to evaluate all facets of his organization, including Pierce.
“Obviously, we’re not happy,” Davis said last week. “But you have to go through the season, and then you evaluate. And right now, I’m not in that position to evaluate anything.”
Another ugly loss
The Raiders’ 15-9 loss to the Falcons on Monday night at Allegiant Stadium did not help Pierce’s cause.
Atlanta entered the game on a four-game losing streak. Its inept offense also gave the Raiders plenty of opportunities to steal a win.
They couldn’t do it. A series of self-inflected wounds, from special-teams breakdowns to penalties to turnovers, led to another loss.
“The number one problem is turnovers,” Pierce said. “Number two would be execution and situational football on third down and in the red zone on both sides of the ball.”
Pierce, who also pointed to penalties as a problem, was frustrated Monday after the loss. The Raiders had three turnovers, committed seven penalties for 55 yards and were 4-for-14 on third down.
“I don’t know what else to tell y’all. We’re not winning,” Pierce said. “Do I want to win? Hell yeah, I want to win. Do I want to keep sitting here looking at the same damn thing every week, having the same discussion with y’all? No. … But these guys are not budging. I’m not budging. We’ll keep chopping wood, and at some point, the damn thing will break and go our way.”
O’Connell on the mend
Quarterback Aidan O’Connell was inactive Monday after being carted off the field with a knee injury during the Raiders’ loss to the Buccaneers on Dec. 8.
Pierce said Tuesday that O’Connell is “trending upward” and could return Sunday against the Jaguars.
O’Connell went through an extensive on-field workout before Monday’s game, but the Raiders opted to hold him out. Desmond Ridder, a 2022 third-round pick by the Falcons, got the start against his former team instead.
“(O’Connell) had a good workout. (He) just wasn’t there quite yet to put him out there in that position,” Pierce said.
Ridder struggled Monday, completing 23 of 39 passes for 208 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He threw for 135 yards the Raiders’ final two drives.
“We were just never really able to find a rhythm until late in the game,” Ridder said. “By then, it’s too little, too late. But we just got to find a way to get in rhythm and get in the rhythm fast.”
McCormick provides update
Pierce did not have an official update Tuesday on running back Sincere McCormick, who left Monday’s game in the first half with an ankle injury and did not return.
McCormick, however, posted a video on his Instagram account Tuesday that suggested he is out for the Raiders’ final three games.
“I just wanna give a shout out to everybody who kept me in their prayers,” McCormick said. “But it’s nothing too crazy, though. I mean honestly, I’ll be back next season. I’m not really even tripping about it. I’ll be back better than ever.”
McCormick, 24, has been a bright spot for the Raiders after earning a promotion from the practice squad to the active roster. He has 39 carries for 183 yards this season.
Robinson suspended
Defensive end Janarius Robinson was suspended three games for violating the NFL’s substances of abuse policy Tuesday, meaning he will miss the remainder of the season.
Robinson, 25, will not be paid throughout the suspension. He has five tackles in 10 games this season for the Raiders. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI in February on the Strip. He later pleaded no contest and was ordered to pay $1,000 in fines and participate in a DUI traffic school program, according to court records.
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X.