Los Vegas Raiders quarterback Brian Hoyer considered retirement!
As Jimmy Garoppolo recovers from his latest surgery, veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer has gone from New England’s injured reserve list to receiving key Raiders offseason. The former Patriots player ran the Raiders’ offense during their spring work.
The unexpected activity comes after the veteran quarterback considered retirement following the 2022 season, Vic Tafur the Athletic notes. Brian Hoyer enter the NFL in 2009 when he was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent.
Brian Hoyer replaced Mac Jones after the Patriots starter sprained his ankle before Bailey Jappe got an unexpected chance to start as a rookie. Hoyer debuted against the Packers in October and completed 5 of 6 passes, but only completed 15 snaps before an injury sidelined him. Hoyer’s arm did not play again in the previous season. Hoyer was not expected to miss the remainder of the year and believed he was ready to be activated later in the season, but the Pats placed him on IR.
The Raiders, who have acceded to several ex-Josh McDaniel Patriots picks, had Hoyer on their radar as a guard prior to signing Garoppolo. Following the Patriots’ release, Hoyer signed a two-year, $4.5M contract with $4.21M guaranteed. The Raiders attempted to retain Jarrett Stidham, but they opted for a $5M guaranteed deal for Broncos backup Russell Wilson.
Hoyer will turn 38 in October. While the former Michigan State player hasn’t made more than one start in a season since 2017 — when he ushered in the Kyle Shanahan era as San Francisco’s starter — Garoppolo’s injury history certainly has been a problem in Las Vegas. Opens the door for late-career opportunities.
The Raiders look to Hoyer as a mentor to fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell, whom Tafur says will be groomed as a potential long-term backup. Hoyer represented the first team during the Silver and Black’s offseason program, but if Garoppolo is lost, it will be interesting to see whether the Raiders move Hoyer into action or go with the unused O’Connell.
However, Hoyer led the Browns to a playoff run in 2014 and the Texans to the AFC South title in 2015, having made 40 career starts. The last 12 of them are winless.
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