Derek Carr leaves Raiders after getting benched for remainder of season

Carr will be replaced by Jarrett Stidham for the Raiders last two games of 2022

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (KYMA, KECY) - After being informed that he would be benched for the final two games, Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Derek Carr has stepped away from the team.

It was announced earlier Wednesday morning that Carr would be benched in favor of Jarret Stidham for the remainder of the season after the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Christmas Eve to fall to 6-9.

Later on in the day, NFL reporter Ian Rapoport revealed that Carr and the organization agreed that he would step away from the team to “avoid the obvious distractions.” 

Carr will now not practice and be listed as "not-injury related."

Sources also told ESPN Insider Jeremy Fowler that the move is primarily to keep Carr's health in check and keep their options open this offseason. Whether it's a trade or release is unknown.

Carr has been a Raider for his entire nine-year career, holding nearly every passing record in franchise history since being drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Where it gets interesting is Carr is due $32.9 million next season and $7.5 million of his 2024 salary is fully guaranteed should he be injured.

So, shutting Carr down essentially saves the Raiders over $40 million if they choose to part ways in some form or another.

Carr 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.

While all of this went down, Carr's teammate and longtime friend from Fresno State, Davante Adams had some words on the situation.

“I’m not gonna sit here and go on and on but obviously I support my guy,” Adams told reporters on Wednesday. “We gotta finish this season up the best way we can, all things considered at this point.”