Kenny Pickett is coming home this weekend, and he’ll face his former team as Adam Schefter confirmed that Geno Smith won’t play in Week 15. Smith suffered a right shoulder injury Sunday during the Las Vegas Raiders‘ 24-17 loss to the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium.
Earlier this week, Raiders coach Pete Carroll said Smith’s shoulder “locked up” after getting hit while the veteran completed a 3-yard pass to tight end Brock Bowers to close out the third quarter. Smith went into the locker room and was replaced by Pickett, who finished 8 of 11 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown.
Carroll said an early test showed that Smith avoided severe damage, but Pickett is expected to get the call.
Raiders QB Kenny Pickett will in fact start Sunday against his former Eagles team, per Pete Carroll.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 12, 2025
Before exiting due to injury, Smith completed 13 of 21 passes for 116 yards, one touchdown, and achieved a passer rating of 92.6. This game marked the fourth time this season that Smith did not throw an interception. Pickett won a Super Bowl ring with the Eagles in 2024. The 26-year-old quarterback completed 25 of 42 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns, including a critical Week 17 start that secured an NFC East-clinching victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Throughout his 24 starts for the Steelers, Pickett had a record of 14 wins and 10 losses. During those games, he completed 446 of 713 passes (62.6%) for a total of 4,474 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He will now serve as the primary backup to Geno Smith in Las Vegas.
Pickett won a ring with the Eagles in 2024, and the 26-year-old completed 25-of-42 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns, including a Week 17 start that earned an NFC East-clinching victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
Pickett went 14-10 in 24 starts for the Steelers. In those 24 games, Pickett was 446 of 713 passing (62.6%) for 4,474 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions. He’ll now be the primary backup to Geno Smith in Las Vegas.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Kenny Pickett to start at QB for Raiders vs. Eagles in Week 15
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