It seems Matt Flynn may have lost a starting job once again before the first snap of the regular season.
The Oakland Raiders have selected Terrelle Pryor to be the starting quarterback Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts according to ESPN.com, citing multiple sources.
The reports come despite comments from Raiders head coach Dennis Allen on Monday that he would not name a the Week 1 start yet due to “competitive” reasons.
If the reports are true this would be the second straight season another quarterback will take the job that many expected Matt Flynn to have.
As a member of the Seattle Seahawks in 2012, Flynn was ahead of Russell Wilson on the depth chart during the preseason as Wilson was a rookie at the time. Flynn had turned in one of the best single-game performances of 2011 while filling in for an injured Aaron Rodgers as a member of the Green Bay Packers. He completed 31 out of 44 passes, throwing for 480 yards with six touchdowns and only one interception during the game—the only one he’s ever started in his career.
Therefore, the Seahawks signed him and it was believed he would start. However, Wilson beat him out for the starting job. Later, when Wilson began to play at a pro-bowl level, the Seahawks realized they no longer needed Flynn and traded him to the Raiders.
Things were going well for Flynn this preseason until the Raiders week three matchup against the Chicago Bears. He went 3-of-6 and threw two interceptions. He was subsequently pulled for Pryor who went 7-of-9 for 93 yards with a touchdown, igniting questions about the security of Flynn’s starting job.
Flynn did not play at all during the Raiders’ final preseason game against the Seahawks due to soreness in his elbow. Pryor went 3-of-8 for 31 yards and added an interception, playing the entire first half. He also ran for 48 yards on three carries. The Seahawks controlled the ball for most of the first half and the Raiders ran only 19 plays in the first two quarters.
