Kenny Pickett to start for Raiders against Eagles with Geno Smith out

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Kenny Pickett will start at quarterback for the Raiders against his former team when Las Vegas visits Philadelphia on Sunday with Geno Smith out because of back and shoulder injuries.

Smith injured his right shoulder and hand in the third quarter of Sunday's 24-17 loss to Denver.

Coach Pete Carroll said Friday the main issue is his lower back, and he didn't want to subject Smith to a cross-country flight with the forecast calling for a high of 28 degrees and a chance of snow.

“It’s a lower back issue that he’s concerned about, and just doesn’t seem like it would behoove him moving forward,” Carroll said. "So we’re going to take care of him and not put him through that.”

Carroll said Smith has a good chance to return next week when the Raiders visit Houston.

Pickett played well in his brief appearance against the Broncos, completing 8 of 11 passes for 97 yards. He led two fourth-quarter scoring drives totaling 10 points.

Now he gets the chance to face the team where he backed up Jalen Hurts last season on an Eagles team that won the Super Bowl.

“He’s done everything we could ask him, and he had an excellent week,” Carroll said. "He’s in command of what we’re doing. Communications are good and all that. He’s got a little East Coast in him, so that won’t hurt. We’ll support him in every way that we can to have a good game.”

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Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith (7) drops back to pass against the Denver Broncos during the first half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Candice Ward)

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kenny Pickett (15) passes against the Denver Broncos during the second half of an NFL football game in Las Vegas, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

TORONTO (AP) — Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro and Toronto agreed to a new five-year contract following the team's first American League pennant since 1993.

Rogers Communications announced the agreement Friday, six weeks after the Blue Jays came within two outs of the title before losing Game 7 of the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Shapiro, 58, took over as president and CEO when Paul Beeston retired after the 2015 season. Shapiro had spent 24 seasons with Cleveland, including the previous five as team president.

Ross Atkins, who worked for Shapiro in Cleveland, was hired as Blue Jays general manager in December 2015. Atkins is signed through the 2026 season.

Shapiro had signed a five-year contract extension in January 2021.

“Mark’s exceptional leadership has been a driving force behind the Blue Jays’ success, and we’re thrilled he will continue to lead our team and build on their incredible momentum,” team chairman Edward Rogers, also the executive chair of team owner Rogers Communications, said in a statement. “As proud owners of Canada’s team, we are excited to work with Mark and his team to give them the tools and resources they need to bring World Series championships back to Canada.”

Toronto's only World Series came in 1992 and '93.

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FILE - Toronto Blue Jays president and CEO Mark Shapiro speaks during an end-of-season baseball media availability in Toronto, Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP, File)