As the Raiders prepare for a cross-country matchup against a Super Bowl contender, Pete Carroll is choosing the latter. Las Vegas is turning to a new quarterback this week, but the storyline around facing a former team isn’t driving the plan. Instead, the Raiders are keeping things procedural, even as one player steps into a uniquely personal moment.

The decision itself is straightforward. Kenny Pickett will start Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles after Geno Smith was ruled out with a right shoulder and hand injury. According to a tweet posted by reporter Nick Walters, Carroll confirmed he hasn’t had emotional or motivational conversations with Pickett about facing his former team.

“We haven’t done a lot yet, specifically about that, because we have a mentality that

See Full Page