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The Oakland Raiders plan to start quarterback Terrelle Pryor in the Week 17 regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos, according to Raiders beat writer Jerry McDonald:

Pryor, who has battled a nagging knee injury this year, has not started a game under center since Week 10's 24-20 loss at the New York Giants. Undrafted rookie Matt McGloin replaced him as the starting QB in Week 11.

When asked whether McGloin was showing improvement following Week 16's 26-13 loss at San Diego, head coach Dennis Allen said the following, per Raiders.com: "Yeah, in certain areas. Again, it’s a team game. We all have to take our ownership in it. We all have to take our part in it. So he certainly needs to continue to get better. He’s not a finished product."

While you'd think Pryor's agent, Jerome Stanley, would be excited for his client to start once more, that doesn't appear to be the case. He told Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area:



I think they're putting him in hopes that he fails. That's what I think coach is doing. I think they're putting him in hopes that he has a bad game, so he can then justify the Matt McGloin situation. I think that's what's going on, I do and it's ridiculous... You have to understand the coach is putting him in, he doesn't want him to look good. And you can write that. He doesn't want him to look good because, if he looks good this week, it makes the past five weeks look like a bad decision. (Allen) doesn't want him to look good, he wants him to look bad. That is what is going on.

On Dec. 24, Pryor responded:

CSN Bay Area's Scott Bair added Dennis Allen's response:

Allen sat the banged-up Pryor after a 3-6 start to the year (Pryor missed Week 4's loss to Washington with a concussion), opting for a change of pace and starting McGloin in Week 11's win over the Houston Texans.

Jeff Gross/Getty Images

However, the Raiders have lost five in a row since McGloin's one shining moment at the helm. And over that time, McGloin threw just five touchdown passes versus eight interceptions and completed roughly 57 percent of his passes, per Pro Football Reference.

The former Penn State star struggled mightily in Week 16's loss to the Chargers, completing 20 of 36 passes for 206 yards and an interception.

Pryor saw some action at quarterback in recent losses to the New York Jets and Kansas City Chiefs, but hasn't attempted more than five passes in a game since being relegated to a backup role in November. Although he's been largely ineffective as a passer this season, Pryor's athleticism and speed make him a threat to move the chains and score with his legs.

He's carried the ball 74 times for 527 yards and two touchdowns in 2013.

Oakland is 4-11 heading into Week 17's finale and will need a win to avoid its second straight 4-12 season and third since 2007.

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