Aidan O'Connell‘s next month won’t include much football.
The Raiders quarterback is headed for injured reserve after suffering a fractured thumb in Sunday’s 20-15 loss to the Rams, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported Monday, per sources.
O’Connell will miss the next 4-6 weeks but has a chance to return this season, per Rapoport and Garafolo.
With O’Connell slated to miss at least four games while on IR, the Raiders are signing Desmond Ridder off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per a source.
O’Connell began 2024 in a training camp competition with offseason addition Gardner Minshew for the starting job and lost out to the veteran almost by default, as neither looked very impressive during their preseason performances. Minshew’s run as starter lasted just five weeks, ending when Antonio Pierce had seen enough of the veteran’s turnover-prone tendencies and replaced him with O’Connell during Las Vegas’ Week 5 loss to Denver.
O’Connell was named the starter entering Week 6 but hasn’t found the going any easier. He completed 27 of 40 passes for 227 yards, one touchdown and one interception in a 32-13 loss to Pittsburgh in Week 6, then attempted 10 passes Sunday before suffering the thumb injury that will keep him out for at least a month.
O’Connell’s promotion was the second instance in two NFL seasons in which Pierce has chosen him over a veteran under center. The coach tabbed O’Connell as the Raiders’ starter over Jimmy Garoppolo for the rest of the season once he replaced the fired Josh McDaniels midway through the 2023 season.
Unlike O’Connell’s rookie season, the Raiders’ problems extend beyond quarterback. They’ll need Minshew to produce in O’Connell’s absence.
