Pete Carroll had seen enough.
The first-year Raiders coach pulled quarterback Geno Smith in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s eventual blowout loss to the Chiefs following an uninspired performance, in which he completed 10 of 16 attempts for 67 yards and zero touchdowns. He was also sacked once.
Backup Kenny Pickett was inserted in garbage time of the 31-0 hammering, going 2 of 2 for 8 yards.
Carroll, who reunited with Smith this offseason via a trade with Seattle, where the ex-Jets bust revived his career under the Super Bowl-winning coach, was shellshocked at the game’s final result.
“This was a game that I didn’t see coming. We had prepared really well,” Carroll said, according to Pro Football Talk. “They’re a terrific team, they did everything that they do, they played really well in all phases and kept us totally at bay. We couldn’t make a first down and couldn’t get off the field.”
Although Smith moved the ball early against Kansas City, he has largely failed to live up to the two-year, $75 million extension he agreed to in April, throwing seven touchdowns against 10 interceptions in seven games.
“Tough losses like this should be a gut check and it should make you lock in more with your teammates,” Smith said afterward.
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With the Raiders now sitting in the basement of the AFC West at 2-5, it remains to be seen if the team explores a different option at the position.
Before Sunday’s road beatdown, Carroll mulled the idea of benching Smith during a crushing 40-6 loss to the Colts in Week 5 but decided against it, stressing reps.
“Yeah, I was thinking that if there was a reason to do that,” Carroll said afterward. “But here’s the reason why I didn’t do that – we need to stay out there and keep practicing.
“We need the reps. We need the turns. We need to run the system. We need to feel it. We need to see you guys get their opportunities that it takes to improve. That’s not like a big change is necessary. I thought about it, you know, because it was there.”
The Raiders will have time to during the bye before hosting the Jaguars on Nov. 2.
