The Las Vegas Raiders might be receiving good news on the injury front for a change.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew’s season-ending broken collarbone has left the Raiders in a tight spot. With limited options remaining amidst a lost season, the Raiders were looking for anything to keep the team afloat.
The Raiders may be getting one such option back. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell was designated to return from injured reserve on Monday and, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, is currently being prepared to start against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday.
The #Raiders are preparing to start Aidan O’Connell at QB on Friday against the #Chiefs, per sources.
On IR since breaking his thumb in Week 7, O’Connell returned to practice Monday and got the first-team reps. As long as the week goes well, it’s AOC time again. pic.twitter.com/XoVHAOuJK9
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 26, 2024
The Raiders will be calling on O’Connell for the second time this season, as he returned to the lineup after the Raiders benched Minshew during Week 5 against the Denver Broncos. O’Connell was trending towards being the starter for the remainder of the season before breaking his thumb in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Rams.
While O’Connell’s return to practice is a positive sign, his status against the Chiefs remains in the air.
“Just seeing him being able to grip the ball comfortably — hopefully there’s no pain there — and just being able to be efficient,” Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said on Monday. “To put a player out there that’s hurting or injured still, that’s not in the benefit of the player or the team.”
O’Connell appeared in 11 games with 10 starts last season as a fourth-round rookie replacing then starter Jimmy Garoppolo. In that stretch, he performed admirably, posting a 5-5 record and completing 62.1% of his passes for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns, and seven interceptions.
If a setback occurs during this week’s practices, the Raiders will turn to midseason acquisition Desmond Ridder, who finished Sunday’s game against the Broncos after Minshew was injured.
The Raiders desperately needed some positive news in the face of this current adversity. O’Connell returning to the field would qualify.
