ALAMEDA, Calif. _ Connor Cook will start at quarterback for the Raiders in Saturday's AFC wild-card game at Houston, coach Jack Del Rio announced on Wednesday.
"I'm just embracing the opportunity," Cook said. "Going to go out there and have fun, just let it all hang out. I'm obviously preparing my butt off. Do what I've been doing all season long and just go out there and have fun with my teammates."
With starter Derek Carr out with a broken fibula and backup Matt McGloin nursing a sore left (non-throwing) shoulder, Del Rio said it was an easy call to go with the rookie who will be just six days shy of his NFL debut and making his first career start.
"He played pretty well when he went in and Matt's hurt," Del Rio said in explaining the decision. "We're hoping to get Matt healthy enough to be in a backup role. Right now, that remains in question."
Cook will become the first quarterback to make his NFL starting debut in a playoff game. He will oppose the Texans' Brock Osweiler in the 1:35 p.m. kickoff at NRG Stadium.
"Just want him to be himself and go out and do what he can do and want our team to go out and do what it can do," Del Rio said.
Cook, 23, a fourth-round pick from Michigan State, made his NFL debut Sunday in Denver after McGloin went out in the second quarter. Cook completed 14 of 21 passes for 150 yards and a touchdown, but he was sacked twice, fumbled twice and also had a pass intercepted.
"I felt pretty calm," Cook said of his debut. "With the hard circumstances, just going in there, I felt like I was confident. I know the offense well. I've been in the system for almost a year now. We were running stuff that I've been familiar with so it was actually fun to get out there and get some reps."
