Connor Cook’s exhibition season started out well. After a fine opening to training camp, he followed it with a sharp performance in the first summer exhibition game vs. Detroit.
That all that went out the window Friday night.
Cook, in a battle with E.J. Manuel to win the No. 2 quarterback job behind starter Derek Carr, was disappointingly bad in his time on the field in a 13-6 Oakland victory over the Packers at O.co Coliseum. Cook was just 6-of-15 passing for 72 yards, with an interception. At one point, head coach Jon Gruden was seen screaming at him on the sideline.
Meanwhile, Manuel came in to lead the Raiders to a fourth-quarter touchdown drive. Manuel was 8-of-12 for 87 yards, and appears now to have the No. 2 job in hand.
With the game tied 6-6 late in the game, Manuel took the Raiders on an eight-play, 68-yard march for the score, finished off on a 1-yard TD run by running back Chris Warren who had another strong game. Warren – who now appears destined for a roster spot – rushed 12 times for 54 yards.
Vic Tafur, who covers the Raiders for The Athletic, noted Cook probably lost any chance to be Carr’s primary backup with his performance against Green Bay.
Tweeted Tafur after Cook left the game: “Coonor Cook has fluffed the pillows on the couch, put snacks and drinks on the table and handed the remote to E.J. Manuel. The backup QB job is all E.J.’s if he wants it.”
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Jimmy Durkin, also of The Athletic, doesn’t have all that much faith in Manuel, either, however.
Tweeted Durkin: “Why were we so stunned when Connor Cook looked great vs. the Lions? Because he had never looked that great. The Raiders have a backup QB problem.”
After Friday night’s victory, the Raiders have one exhibition game remaining, this coming Thursday night in Seattle.
