Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell is believed to have suffered a broken thumb in Sunday’s 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, based on preliminary tests, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported, per sources.
O’Connell, the second-year signal-caller who had just re-taken the starting job a week ago, will undergo further evaluation on Monday to determine the extent of the injury, Rapoport added.
Head coach Antonio Pierce said as the same following the game, telling reporters more tests are needed to determine the severity of his QB’s injury.
O’Connell left the game in the first quarter after two drives and was replaced by Gardner Minshew. O’Connell was 6-of-10 passing for 52 yards in his two possessions against Los Angeles and exited with the score tied at 0-0.
On the season, O’Connell was 46-of-72 for 403 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions entering Sunday’s proceedings. However, Las Vegas dropped his first start in Week 6, 32-13, to the Steelers.
The Raiders would go on to lose to the Rams, as well, with Minshew throwing a costly three interceptions while going 15 of 34 for 154 yards off the bench. Before Sunday, Minshew had a 2-3 record with 1,014 passing yards, four touchdowns and five INTs.
O’Connell’s injury is the latest development for a Raiders team in flux. After benching Minshew for AOC in Week 6, Las Vegas traded Davante Adams to the New York Jets on Tuesday, shipping their most talented offensive player out of town as the rest of the team struggles to stay in playoff contention at 2-5 after the defeat.
