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The Associated Press
HENDERSON, Nev. -- When Antonio Pierce became the Raiders' interim coach midway through last season, his first major act was naming then-rookie Aidan O'Connell the starting quarterback.
Pierce, now the full-time Las Vegas coach, is turning again to O'Connell as the Raiders reach a critical part of their season and is benching Gardner Minshew with the Pittsburgh Steelers visiting on Sunday.
O'Connell went 5-4 after he became the starter last season. Pierce said Wednesday he has seen the QB grow in confidence.
"He has a certain presence about himself," Pierce said. "I love how he walks around the building, but really what I respect most is when we named Gardner the starter, he was like, 'All right, I'll be the best scout-team quarterback possible.'"
AP picks 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers (-3.5) keep losing players but are favorites on the road tonight in Seattle. The Seahawks (3-2) have lost two in a row. Expect Jordan Mason to have a big game on the ground for the 49ers. 49ers, 27-20.
Elsewhere:
n Nico Collins, the NFL's leading receiver, will miss at least four games after the Houston Texans placed him on injured reserve with a hamstring injury Wednesday.
n Abdul Salaam, a member of the Jets' famed "New York Sack Exchange" in the 1980s, has died. He was 71. The team announced Salaam's death Wednesday.