The Las Vegas Raiders will bench Derek Carr for the final two games of the season, giving Jarrett Stidham a chance to play. Carr will step away from the Raiders for the remainder of the season.

Stidham was a fourth round pick by the New England Patriots in 2019.

Carr had signed a three-year, $121.5 million contract extension in the spring, but he could be cut for a $5.625 million salary-cap hit if the move is made within three days of the Super Bowl. 

Carr could still remain with the Raiders in 2023.

McDaniels said there was no "finality" in the decision to shut down Carr.

"None of us is happy with where we're at, but we think it's an opportunity to evaluate a younger player who hasn't had much time to play," McDaniels said. "Derek was great. He understands the scenario that we're in and the situation and is very supportive of the two young guys. He'll do anything he can to help them."

The Las Vegas Raiders have struggled to pass the football this season, something that has confused first-year coach Josh McDaniels.

"For us to be able to win at this time of the year and be productive, offensively you have to throw the ball better than what we've thrown at times here in the last month and a half," McDaniels said. "We've been able to win some in spite of that, overall, but clearly, that's not the goal. The goal would be to be more productive than what we've been."

Carr has thrown three-plus interceptions twice this season and has thrown one in five straight games.

"When you don't do your best, you let your team down, let the organization and fans down," Carr said after Saturday's loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. "It breaks your heart. At the end of the day, nobody cares. You get back up and keep going."

Defensive end Chandler Jones grabbed a bizarre, unnecessary lateral by New England's Jakobi Meyers out of the air on the final play and returned it 48 yards for a touchdown, giving the Las Vegas Raiders a 30-24 victory over the Patriots on Sunday.

The NFL will no longer allow the Las Vegas Raiders to use a holder on kickoffs in order to improve hang time.

Josh McDaniels explained that the Raiders got the idea to have the ball placed on the top of the tee, rather than inside the tee, because it puts the ball slightly higher off the ground.

McDaniels said the Raiders first got clarification from the NFL that a holder is allowed to hold the ball on the top of the tee, and the league confirmed that it's legal.

However, after the league's officiating department discussed the matter with the competition committee, the determination has been made that footballs can only be placed in the tee and not on the tee. 

Not long after Baker Mayfield led the Los Angeles Rams to a 17-16 comeback victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, Sean McVay stood at the podium and laughed.

"Just like we drew it up," McVay said.

The Rams won the game to snap their six-game losing streak in spectacular fashion, led by Mayfield, who was playing two days after he was claimed off waivers. Mayfield came off the bench after Los Angeles' first series, replacing starting quarterback John Wolford.