Raiders’ Geno Smith replaced by Kenny Pickett after suffering shoulder injury

The Las Vegas Raiders are losing to the Denver Broncos in the second half. Now, they have an injury that will make an unlikely comeback even harder. Raiders quarterback Geno Smith has left the game with a shoulder injury, and Kenny Pickett has replaced him. Smith is questionable to return.

“The Raiders announce Geno Smith is questionable to return with an injury to his throwing shoulder. It’s the Kenny Pickett show for now,” Nick Walters of KTNV reported.

The Raiders scored an early touchdown, as Smith found tight end Brock Bowers on a 15-yard score. That tied the game at seven, but the Broncos took over from there. Pickett came in with Vegas down 21-7 late in the fourth quarter.

Pickett was traded from the Cleveland Browns to the Raiders after losing a training camp battle. He has been Smith’s backup throughout the season, making two appearances before Sunday. Despite Smith’s poor play and Vegas’ dismal offensive line, the veteran has stayed healthy throughout most of the season.

The Raiders have just two wins on the season and are a far way from picking up a third. As they tumble toward a seventh consecutive loss with the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles next, it is mock draft season for Vegas fans. Playing Pickett may lead to slight optimism for the future, as he is younger than Smith. But the chances of a career revival for the former first-round pick seem slim.

The Broncos, on the other hand, are competing for the top seed in the AFC. They will be tied with the New England Patriots at 11-2, assuming they close out the victory. Part of that record will be a season sweep of the hated Raiders, despite Vegas bringing in a new quarterback and coach in the offseason.

Can Kenny Pickett pull off the comeback?

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