Aidan O'Connell Injury News & Updates

O'Connell (wrist) has been ruled out for Monday's game against Dallas, Anthony Galaviz of The Fresno Bee reports.

Despite being a full participant in practice all week, the Raiders will leave O'Connell on injured reserve for Week 11. His 21-day window to return from IR opened Oct. 29, and if he's not activated from IR before the window closes, he would be required to sit out for the entire 2025 season. Kenny Pickett will serve as Geno Smith's backup quarterback for Monday's home contest.

O'Connell (wrist) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Broncos.

O'Connell has been a full practice participant since his 21-day practice window opened Oct. 29, but the third-year pro is not quite ready to be activated from injured reserve. O'Connell is recovering from surgery to repair a fractured right wrist that he sustained during the preseason, but with the Raiders on a bye Week 11, he has a good shot at being available for Week 12 against the Cowboys on Monday, Nov. 17. Kenny Pickett will continue to serve as the Raiders' backup quarterback behind starter Geno Smith for as long as O'Connell is sidelined.

O'Connell (wrist) has been ruled out ahead of Sunday's game against the Jaguars.

O'Connell has been sidelined all season while recovering from wrist surgery. He practiced fully all week but will not return Sunday, leaving Kenny Pickett as the Raiders' backup quarterback.

O'Connell (wrist) practiced in full Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

O'Connell fractured his wrist late in the preseason and has been sidelined since. It's positive that he was immediately able to log a full practice, but he will still need to be activated from injured reserve before suiting up for game action.

The Raiders intend to designate O'Connell (wrist) for a return to practice from IR in Week 9, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

O'Connell has missed the entire regular season so far due to a right wrist fracture suffered in late August, but it sounds like Las Vegas will open his 21-day practice window as soon as Wednesday. Once healthy, O'Connell will provide the Raiders with a new No. 3 quarterback option behind Geno Smith and Kenny Pickett.

The Raiders are placing O'Connell (wrist) on injured reserve, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

Las Vegas general manger John Spytek said Wednesday that O'Connell is recovering from surgery undergone to address the right wrist fracture he suffered this preseason, per McFadden. As a response, Raiders traded for Kenny Pickett (hamstring) from Cleveland to back up Geno Smith on Monday. O'Connell will be required to miss at least the first four games of the regular season as a result of his placement on IR, and once healthy it seems as though he'll slide to the No. 3 quarterback spot behind Pickett.

O'Connell has a fractured right wrist and is likely to miss 6-to-8 weeks, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.

O'Connell suffered the injury during Saturday's preseason loss to Arizona. It's the second major injury in as many years for the 2023 fourth-round draft selection, who had a stint on IR last season due to a fractured thumb. O'Connell had been slated to be Las Vegas' No. 2 QB behind Geno Smith, but that role could now go to rookie Cam Smith -- at least for the first several weeks of the regular season -- unless the team acquires another QB in free agency or via trade.

O'Connell won't return to Saturday's preseason game at Arizona due to a right wrist injury, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.

After starting quarterback Geno Smith led the Raiders to a touchdown on their opening possession, O'Connell took over the offense for two drives of his own, one in which he lost a fumble and the other that resulted in a successful Daniel Carlson field goal. Per Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com, O'Connell then went to the locker room before being ruled out. Cam Miller entered the contest in place of O'Connell.

The Raiders recently traded for Geno Smith, leaving O'Connell as the likely No. 2 quarterback for 2025.

O'Connell got a chance to compete for the starting job last summer, losing out to Gardner Minshew (collarbone) but then taking over mid-season. Minshew ended up taking the job back after O'Connell suffered a thumb fracture, with things later swinging back to the latter after the former broke his collarbone. The team released Minshew on Wednesday, leaving O'Connell in the clear for the second spot on the depth chart, albeit presumably without any chance to push Smith for the starting role.

O'Connell completed 24 of 34 passes for 214 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 34-20 loss to the Chargers. He added four rushes for 13 yards.

O'Connell had effective moments early in the contest, particularly on a drive early in the second quarter during which he threw for 47 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown strike to Jakobi Meyers. However, he threw an interception just before halftime that resulted in the Chargers cashing in for a touchdown, shifting the momentum in the game and seemingly taking the Raiders out of any offensive rhythm. Las Vegas struggled to settle on a starting quarterback throughout the season, but the team is likely to look for an upgrade at the position this offseason, potentially shifting O'Connell down the depth chart.

O'Connell completed 20 of 35 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 25-10 win over the Saints.

The second-year QB hit Jakobi Meyers for a three-yard score in the second quarter that put the Raiders in the lead for good, then capped his day with an 18-yard TD to Tre Tucker in the fourth. O'Connell is having a decent finish to the season, accounting for five touchdowns (four passing, one rushing) in his last four appearances against only one INT, but Las Vegas is still almost certain to look for an upgrade in the offseason. O'Connell will try to wrap up the campaign in style in Week 18 against the Chargers.

O'Connell completed 24 of 38 passes for 257 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions in Sunday's 19-14 win over the Jaguars. He added seven rushes for 12 yards.

O'Connell returned from a one-game absence and stabilized the Raiders' offense by not turning the ball over and taking only two sacks. He also completed three passes of at least 20 yards, two of which came in the first quarter. O'Connell has now thrown for multiple touchdowns in only one of his four starts on the season, but he has shown the ability to get the ball to the Raiders' top playmakers at a consistent clip and in turn helping the offense.

O'Connell (knee) doesn't carry an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Jaguars after practicing fully this week.

Per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN, head coach Antonio Pierce noted earlier Friday that O'Connell "should be good to go" and start Sunday against the Jacksonville. With the QB subsequently maintaining his full participation level and avoiding a Week 16 injury designation, O'Connell is poised to return the lineup after being inactive for this past Monday's loss to the Falcons, a game started by Desmond Ridder.

O'Connell (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice, Paul Guteirrez of ESPN.com reports.

O'Connell's ability to practice without limitations suggests he'll be healthy enough to suit up for Sunday's game against the Jaguars, barring a setback. His return under center is welcome news for top Raiders pass catchers Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers, who combined for only 94 receiving yards in Desmond Ridder's spot start during Monday's 15-9 loss to the Falcons.

O'Connell (knee) returned to practice Wednesday, Kevin Bollinger of FOX 5 Vegas reports.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Tuesday that O'Connell is trending toward playing in Sunday's game against Jacksonville, after missing a 16-10 loss to the Falcons on Monday. O'Connell didn't practice at all last week but was available as the emergency No. 3 QB Monday night, behind starter Desmond Ridder and Carter Bradley.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said Tuesday that O'Connell (knee) is "trending upwards to play" Sunday against Jacksonville, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

O'Connell was inactive for Monday night's loss to the Falcons, but he was cleared to operate as Las Vegas' emergency third quarterback. Desmond Ridder struggled in his spot start versus Atlanta, throwing for 208 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions in the 15-9 loss. A return to the lineup on O'Connell's part could help spark things on offense for the Raiders, which would be especially notable for rookie tight end Brock Bowers, who was limited to three catches for 35 yards (on six targets) with Ridder under center Monday.

O'Connell (knee) is inactive for Monday night's game against the Falcons, but he's available as the Raiders' emergency third quarterback behind Desmond Ridder and Carter Bradley.

O'Connell was deemed a non-participant in practice Thursday through Saturday and approached the contest listed as questionable, but the bone bruise to his left knee that he sustained during Week 14 action will end up sidelining the QB on Monday. In O'Connell's place, Ridder is in line to make his first start for the Raiders, while O'Connell will target a potential return to action this coming Sunday versus the Jaguars.

O'Connell (knee) will decide during pregame warmups Monday whether he'll play versus the Falcons, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

O'Connell didn't practice at all during the week due to a knee issue he picked up in Week 14 at Tampa Bay, so Las Vegas is preparing as though 2022 third-rounder Desmond Ridder will start at quarterback in Week 15. Whoever steps under center for the Raiders on Monday will be looking at an Atlanta defense that's been less than impressive so far this season, especially against the pass.

O'Connell (knee) is listed as questionable for Monday's game against the Falcons, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

O'Connell didn't practice all week, but the Raiders are evidently giving the second-year quarterback every avenue possible to return Monday from an injury, later discovered to be a bone bruise, that was so serious it required an MRI earlier in the week. In the event O'Connell can't play, Las Vegas would likely turn to Desmond Ridder against his former team. Expect more clarification regarding O'Connell's status to come before the 8:30 p.m. ET kickoff Monday.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said Friday that O'Connell (knee) is not participating in practice, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

O'Connell has now missed back-to-back practice sessions since having participated in Wednesday's walkthrough. The second-year quarterback is nursing a bone bruise to his left knee sustained during Las Vegas' loss to Tampa Bay in Week 14. His final chance to get back on the practice field prior to Monday's game against the Falcons will come Saturday. Desmond Ridder will enter the Raiders' starting lineup versus Atlanta in the event that O'Connell can't suit up.

O'Connell (knee) didn't practice Thursday.

O'Connell, who suffered a bone bruise to his left knee late in the third quarter of the Raiders' loss to the Buccaneers this past Sunday, thus has two more opportunities to practice ahead of Monday night's game against the Falcons. If he's unavailable for the contest, however, Desmond Ridder would be in line to draw the Week 15 start at QB for Las Vegas.

Head coach Antonio Pierce noted that O'Connell (knee) is in line to participate in Wednesday's walk-through, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

When asked whether O'Connell will start Monday night against the Falcons, Pierce said it depends on how the QB looks at practice this week. If O'Connell isn't available for Week 15 action, however, Desmond Ridder would be in line to start in his place.

O'Connell has been diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee following an MRI undergone Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

O'Connell was forced out of Sunday's 28-13 loss to the Buccaneers with an air cast on his left leg, and he had to be carted off the field. All things considered, being diagnosed with only a bone bruise is a near best-case scenario for the second-year quarterback. Head coach Antonio Pierce said Monday he expects Desmond Ridder to start versus Atlanta on Monday Night Football, but it looks like O'Connell still could have a chance to start Week 15 if he can log a good week of practice.

Coach Antonio Pierce said after Sunday's 28-13 loss to the Buccaneers that O'Connell's knee injury "doesn't look good," per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that O'Connell is set for additional tests on the injury Monday.

O'Connell needed an immediate air cast on his leg after getting hurt against the Buccaneers and was carted off the field. While official word on the severity of the injury won't come until after the results of Monday's MRI, it's likely that O'Connell's injury will keep him from suiting up for the Raiders' remaining four games, which would thrust Desmond Ridder into a starting role.

O'Connell was forced out of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers with a knee injury.

Per Tashan Reed of The Athletic, O'Connell's left leg was placed in an air cast prior to him being carted off the field Sunday. With O'Connell having suffered a potentially serious injury, Desmond Ridder is in line to take over at QB for the Raiders versus Tampa Bay.

O'Connell (illness) doesn't have an injury designation for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

O'Connell missed practice Thursday but returned to full participation and is good to go for Sunday's game. He'll face a Buccaneers defense that's allowing the third-most passing yards per game in the NFL, but it remains to be seen if O'Connell will be joined by wide receiver Jakobi Meyers or running back Alexander Mattison, who are both listed as questionable due to ankle injuries.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said Friday that O'Connell (illness) will be a full participant in practice, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

O'Connell missed practice Thursday due to an illness, but he's now back on full track for Sunday's road matchup against the Buccaneers. Pierce said the same is true of No. 1 wideout Jakobi Meyers, who sat out Thursday due to an ankle issue. It will be to the notable benefit of O'Connell -- who completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions during last week's 19-17 loss to the Chiefs -- to have Meyers and rookie tight end Brock Bowers, his two top targets, both healthy versus Tampa Bay.

O'Connell (illness) didn't practice Thursday.

O'Connell practiced fully Wednesday, but his absence a day later makes his status for Sunday's game against the Buccaneers worth tracking. Friday's injury report will reveal whether there's any chance that the illness that sidelined O'Connell on Thursday could affect his Week 14 availability. Desmond Ridder is the Raiders' backup QB, with Carter Bradley on the team's practice squad.

O'Connell completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions and netted no gain on one rush in the Raiders' 19-17 loss to the Chiefs on Friday. He also lost a fumble.

Seeing his first action since Week 7 due to a thumb injury, O'Connell arguably outplayed Patrick Mahomes but still saw the Raiders come up short partly through his own doing. O'Connell's passing yardage total was easily a new career high, and his multi-touchdown tally, which consisted of second-half scoring tosses to Brock Bowers (33 yards) and Tre Tucker (58 yards), was his first of the 2024 season. The second-year signal-caller also spread the ball around to seven different targets, but he wasn't ready for a shotgun snap with 15 seconds remaining at the Chiefs' 38-yard line and saw the ball eventually end up in the hands of Kansas City's Nick Bolton for a game-ending turnover. Despite the heartbreaking finish, O'Connell's overall performance and his chemistry with Bowers (10-140-1) was particularly encouraging, and he therefore carries a bright fantasy outlook into a Week 14 road interconference clash against the Buccaneers on Sunday, Dec. 8.

O'Connell (thumb) was activated off injured reserve Thursday ahead of Friday's game against the Chiefs.

O'Connell's activation corresponds with fellow quarterback Gardner Minshew (collarbone) landing on IR. O'Connell was a full participant in practice both Tuesday and Wednesday and heads into Friday without an injury designation, lining him up to start against Kansas City. Prior to hurting his thumb, O'Connell had made completed 52 of 82 passes for 455 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions over four games.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Wednesday that O'Connell (thumb) will start Friday's game at Kansas City, Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official site reports.

The Raiders listed O'Connell as a full practice participant Tuesday, one day after designating him from a return from injured reserve. They apparently plan to activated him from IR before Friday's game and put him back in the starting role. O'Connell took the job from Gardner Minshew (collarbone) going into Week 6 but then suffered a fractured thumb on his throwing hand in his second start, Week 7. Minshew has started each subsequent game, with Desmond Ridder subbing in a couple of times, including this past Sunday against Denver when Minshew suffered a season-ending injury.

O'Connell was estimated as a full participant in Tuesday's practice walkthrough, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

The wheels begin rolling for O'Connell to return from a four-game absence when Las Vegas designated him to return to practice Monday, and it now seems likely that the second-year quarterback will suit up Friday against Kansas City given his designation as a full participant in practice Tuesday. Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported earlier Tuesday that O'Connell took first-team reps during the walkthrough, suggesting that the Purdue product will start ahead of Desmond Ridder versus Kansas City. O'Connell will need to be activated off IR before that can happen, but everything points to that transaction taking place, as the QB told Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com that "the hope" is that he'll start Friday.

The Raiders are preparing for O'Connell (thumb) to start Friday's game at Kansas City, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

O'Connell remains on injured reserve, but the Raiders set in motion his potential return for Week 13 by opening his 21-day practice window Monday. According to Pelissero, O'Connell took all the first-team reps during Monday's unofficial practice session, while Desmond Ridder worked with the second team after coming on to replace the injured Gardner Minshew (collarbone) in Sunday's 29-19 loss to the Broncos. With Minshew out for the season, O'Connell should have the opportunity to start for the Raiders over the final six contests, provided his fractured right thumb doesn't present any complications in practice leading up to Friday's game. O'Connell profiles as a low-end fantasy option after he completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 6.3 yards per attempt and a 14:9 TD:INT while offering little production as a runner (11 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries) over his first 15 NFL appearances (12 starts).

O'Connell (thumb) was designated to return to practice on Monday.

The move arrives at an opportune time for the Raiders, with head coach Antonio Pierce having confirmed Monday that Gardner Minshew will be out for the rest of the season after suffering a broken collarbone Sunday, per Levi Edwards of the team's official site. As for O'Connell's potential availability for Friday's game against the Chiefs, Pierce noted that the signal-caller has "been ramping up," while acknowledging that a call on O'Connell's Week 13 status will be up to the Raiders' medical staff. In the event that O'Connell isn't activated from IR ahead of Friday's contest, Desmond Ridder would be in line to draw the start against Kansas City.

Coach Antonio Pierce said Monday that O'Connell (thumb) will be designated to return from injured reserve Tuesday, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

The Raiders' hope is that O'Connell will be ready to start Friday's Week 13 game against the Chiefs after Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in Sunday's loss to the Broncos. O'Connell broke his thumb in Week 7 after making a pair of starts and appearing in a total of four games to begin the 2024 campaign. With Minshew done for the year, it will be a chance for the Raiders to get another lengthy look at their second-year quarterback.

The Raiders are hopeful that O'Connell (thumb) will be ready to return from injured reserve and start their Week 13 game against the Chiefs on Friday, Tashan Reed of The Athletic reports.

O'Connell opened the season as the Raiders' No. 2 quarterback, but after coming on in relief for a struggling Gardner Minshew in Weeks 3 and 5, the second-year signal-caller took over as Las Vegas' starter in Week 6. He made just two starts before suffering a broken right thumb in Week 7, resulting in his move to IR. While recovering over the past five weeks, O'Connell seems to be making good progress, with head coach Antonio Pierce noting Sunday that O'Connell was able to do some throwing this past week. Assuming the Raiders open O'Connell's 21-day evaluation window this week, he'll have a chance to step back in as Las Vegas' starter after Minshew suffered a season-ending fractured collarbone in the Week 12 loss to the Broncos. Desmond Ridder finished out that contest under center and would be the top candidate to start in Kansas City if the Raiders aren't comfortable with having O'Connell step back into the lineup on a short week.

The Raiders placed O'Connell (thumb) on injured reserve Tuesday.

According to Vic Tafur of The Athletic, O'Connell is likely to miss 4-to-6 weeks while he recovers from a broken thumb on his throwing hand. The Raiders haven't revealed whether O'Connell will require surgery to address the injury, but in his upcoming absence, Gardner Minshew will step back into the starting role. The Raiders signed Desmond Ridder off the Cardinals' practice squad to provide a depth option behind Minshew.

The Raiders are expected to place O'Connell on IR due to a fractured thumb sustained during Sunday's 20-15 loss to the Rams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

O'Connell is believed to be dealing with a 4-to-6 week recovery timetable, a development which puts Gardner Minshew back in position to start under center for Las Vegas. In his lone full start this season, O'Connell completed 27 of 40 pass attempts for 227 yards, one touchdown and one interception Week 6 versus the Steelers. Across four appearances on the whole, O'Connell has thrown for 455 yards, two touchdowns and two INTs. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that O'Connell will seek a second opinion Monday to confirm the severity of his injury.

Based on preliminary tests, O'Connell is believed to have sustained a broken thumb during Sunday's game against the Rams, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Per the report, O'Connell will undergo further evaluation Monday to determine the extent of his thumb injury. If he ends up missing time beyond Sunday, Gardner Minshew would be in line to reclaim the Raiders' starting QB job.

O'Connell exited Sunday's game against the Rams after suffering a thumb injury.

O'Connell had completed six of his 10 pass attempts for 52 yards prior to leaving the contest. In his absence, Gardner Minshew is in at QB for the Raiders.

O'Connell completed 27 of 40 passes for 227 yards, one touchdown and one interception in Sunday's 32-13 loss to the Steelers.

O'Connell took over as the Raiders' starting quarterback and faced a tough test against the Pittsburgh defense. He got off to a hot start by leading Las Vegas to a touchdown on the team's opening possession, and he went 4-for-4 for 45 yards while working primarily in short areas of the field. While O'Connell remained accurate throughout the game, he was hesitant to push the ball downfield and had only one completion of more than 20 yards. Assuming he stays under center in Week 7 against the Rams, O'Connell could be a bit more aggressive, though expectations should remain in check.

O'Connell is replacing Gardner Minshew as the Raiders' starting quarterback this week, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Minshew is being demoted to the backup role after starting the first five games of the season. Coach Antonio Pierce said he doesn't anticipate going back to Minshew, but Pierce did leave the door open to make another change if he eventually feels one is needed, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com. O'Connell will start off with a home game against the Steelers this Sunday, leading an offense that played its past two games without WR Davante Adams (hamstring), TE Michael Mayer (personal) and RT Thayer Munford (knee).

O'Connell completed 10 of 20 passes for 93 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 34-18 loss to the Broncos.

For the second time in the last three games, O'Connell replaced Gardner Minshew. O'Connell took over late in the third quarter and led four uneven possessions. He did lead a touchdown drive, during which he went 8-for-11 for 79 yards, though it came in garbage time and he rarely pushed the ball down the field. O'Connell also threw an interception and had a three-and-out. Despite O'Connell's ineffectiveness, coach Antonio Pierce declined to name a starter for a Week 6 matchup against the Steelers, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.

O'Connell will remain the backup option under center for the Raiders for the team's Week 4 matchup with the Browns, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

Head coach Antonio Pierce raised some eyebrows Monday when he hinted that a quarterback change could be on the horizon. However, it did not take long for Gardner Minshew to get the nod for another start. Still, it looks like he is on a short leash as of now, meaning O'Connell could get the call at any point should Minshew struggle. The second-year signal caller looked solid in garbage time Sunday, completing nine of 12 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown late in the fourth quarter.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Monday he hasn't ruled out O'Connell, who entered late during Sunday's 36-22 loss to the Panthers, starting over Gardner Minshew versus the Browns in Week 4, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

O'Connell looked solid in garbage time Sunday, completing nine of 12 passes for 82 yards and one touchdown late in the fourth quarter, and with Carolina having already firmly secured a win and focused on running out the clock. Still, with Minshew only compiling 214 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception in roughly three and a half quarters of play, it sounds like the Raiders will reevaluate things under center. Pierce said Las Vegas was "just trying to look for a spark" by having O'Connell enter Sunday's game, per Tashan Reed of The Athletic.

Coach Antonio Pierce said Wednesday that O'Connell won't play in Friday's preseason game against the 49ers, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

Neither will Gardner Minshew, who was named the Week 1 starter Sunday. O'Connell will enter the regular season as the Raiders' No. 2 quarterback, after completing 21 of 29 passes for 176 yards, one TD and one INT in two preseason appearances.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce announced Sunday that Gardner Minshew will be the team's starting quarterback over O'Connell to begin the 2024 season, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

Pierce added during Sunday morning's press conference that experience was ultimately the team's deciding factor, stating that they "feel like [Minshew] gives us the best opportunity to get off to a fast start," according to Tashan Reed and Vic Tafur of The Athletic. O'Connell has more experience with the Raiders, starting 10 games with a 5-5 record and a 12:7 TD:INT ratio during his 2023 rookie season. But, that falls short of the 37 career starts for Minshew, who was also named to his first career Pro Bowl with the Colts last year. It was cearly still a tight race for the job this preseason. O'Connell performed relatively well while coming in off the bench in the first two exhibitions, completing 21 of 29 combined passing attempts for 176 yards and one touchdown an one interception. It's also not out of the question that O'Connell could still have a chance to start this season if Minshew and the Raiders' offense strulgge throughout the campaign. Therefore, it will be worth monitoring how the team perfoms in

O'Connell completed 14 of 20 passes for 96 yards with a touchdown and an interception in the Raiders' 27-12 preseason loss to the Cowboys on Saturday night.

O'Connell had his opportunity after Gardner Minshew led the first five drives for Las Vegas, and the two players finished with very similar numbers. O'Connell's middling 4.8 yards per attempt was marginally better than Minshew's 4.5, although the former did stand out with a five yard-touchdown toss to Harrison Bryant. However, O'Connell also subsequently saw a throw intended for Bryant returned for a pick-six on the first play of the fourth quarter, putting a damper on his overall performance. The competition between the two quarterbacks seemingly remains very close, with a decision from head coach Antonio Pierce potentially coming before Friday's preseason finale against the 49ers.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Sunday that he plans to name a starting quarterback between O'Connell and Gardner Minshew after Saturday's preseason game versus Dallas, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports.

Pierce also said that O'Connell and Minshew are both slated to play at least one quarter during this exhibition with the Cowboys, which is in line with the playing time that they got during Saturday's 24-23 loss to Minnesota. O'Connell did ultimately start versus the Vikings, but he's been splitting first-team practice reps throughout training camp and appears to be on even footing with Minshew following this preseason opener. O'Connell was solid during his 11 regular-season appearances as a rookie last year, and he completed seven of nine passing attempts for 76 yards during his lone offensive series against Minnesota. He'll also have a chance to separate himself during a week of practices before getting to Saturday's game against Dallas.

O'Connell completed seven of nine passes for 76 yards in Saturday's 24-23 preseason loss to the Vikings.

The second-year QB was expected to see about a quarter of action in the Raiders' preseason opener, but O'Connell wound up being under center for only a single possession as he led Las Vegas on a nearly eight-minute drive that ended in a first-quarter field goal. Gardner Minshew then took over to begin the second quarter and engineered three quick scoring drives before halftime, including two touchdowns. While O'Connell getting the start might suggest he's ahead in the battle to be the Week 1 starter, Minshew had a lot more success putting points on the board. The competition will likely continue into next Saturday's clash with the Cowboys.

Coach Antonio Pierce noted Monday that he expects both O'Connell and Gardner Minshew to play "a legit quarter" in Saturday's preseason opener against the Vikings, Kevin Patra of NFL.com reports.

In terms of Saturday's contest, Pierce wouldn't announce a starter, suggesting that each QB would get a similar level of opportunity to make their case for depth chart slotting. "Who goes out first and who goes out second really doesn't matter. (They will) get hopefully an equal amount of snaps and opportunity to showcase," according to Pierce, who also indicated Monday via Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com, that he doesn't "think we can sit there and say somebody's won yet."

O'Connell and Gardner Minshew have been trading off logging first-team reps in training camp, Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official site and Tashan Reed of The Athletic report.

The fact that the two QBs have been alternating taking the bulk of the snaps on a practice-by-practice is indicative of an ongoing job battle, though the starting experience O'Connell gained under Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce last season may give him a slight edge out of the gate. That said, if neither signal-caller pulls away in training camp and the preseason, it could be a while until a decision on the team's Week 1 starter is publicly revealed.

O'Connell and Gardner Minshew have been trading off first-team reps in training camp, Levi Edwards of the Raiders' official site and Tashan Reed of The Athletic report.

The fact that the two QBs have essentially been alternating first-team snaps on a practice-by-practice basis as the coaching staff gives both players a long look, though the starting experience O'Connell gained under Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce last season may give him a slight edge out of the gate. That said, if neither signal-caller pulls away during training camp and the preseason, it could be a while until a decision on the team's Week 1 starter is publicly revealed.

Coach Antonio Pierce said O'Connell will take the first snap over Gardner Minshew in the Raiders' upcoming quarterback competition, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN reports.

Pierce praised O'Connell's work so far this offseason, mentioning how he's "changing his body, his work ethic, being here every day, blocking out the outside noise." He did also talk up Minshew and make it clear that Las Vegas considers the starting role up for grabs, saying a quarterback competition is good for motivation across the roster. As a rookie last season O'Connell led the Raiders to a 5-5 record, and this offseason he'll work to take a step forward and build increased chemistry with Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, plus rookie tight end Brock Bowers.

O'Connell remains in position to compete with Gardner Minshew for the starting job this offseason, after the Raiders refrained from selecting a rookie quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft, Mark Anderson of the Associated Press reports.

Las Vegas was an oft-theorized candidate to add a quarterback in April's draft, but six signal-callers ultimately went off the board before the team's first-round selection at No. 13 overall, which became playmaking tight end Brock Bowers. The team invested second- and third-round selections in offensive linemen Jackson Powers-Johnson and Delmar Glaze, putting whoever wins the 2024 starting gig in a better position for success. O'Connell completed 213 of 343 pass attempts for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions across 10 starts last season, solid rookie numbers for a fourth-round pick, but Minshew boasts enough experience that this offseason should play out as a true competition.

O'Connell (finger) looks set to compete with Gardner Minshew, whom the Raiders plan to ink to a two-year, $25 million deal, for the starting quarterback job, Tashan Reed, Larry Holder and Jeff Howe of The Athletic report.

O'Connell put together a solid rookie campaign for a fourth-round pick across 11 regular-season appearances (10 starts), completing 213 of 343 pass attempts for 2,218 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Minshew is an established veteran and represents real competition for O'Connell, having thrown for 3,305 passing yards, 15 touchdowns and nine INTs across 13 starts with Indianapolis last season, but the 2023 draft pick out of Purdue could get a real chance to compete this offseason. Of course, things could get murkier if Las Vegas bolsters the QB position in April's draft, and this is an offense that will need to transform after losing Josh Jacobs to Green Bay in free agency.

O'Connell completed 20 of 31 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 27-14 win over the Broncos. He also rushed four times for one yard.

O'Connell found Davante Adams from three yards and Jakobi Meyers from 33 yards on his pair of touchdown passes. The fourth-round rookie had a respectable introductory NFL campaign, completing 213 of 343 attempts for 2,218 yards and 12 touchdowns versus seven interceptions while starting in nine of 11 appearances. However, it will be surprising if the Raiders don't add a quarterback this offseason, leaving O'Connell's outlook for the 2024 campaign to be determined.

O'Connell completed 30 of 47 passes for 299 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Colts.

He added three rushing yards on two carries. O'Connell came just short of his first career 300-yard performance and tossed multiple TDs for the second time in three games, a stretch in which he has a 6:0 TD:INT. The Raiders were eliminated from postseason contention with Sunday's loss, but the team has little reason to rest its rookie quarterback for a Week 18 clash with the Broncos.

O'Connell completed nine of 21 passes for 62 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions and also rushed four times for minus-4 yards during Sunday's 20-14 victory at Kansas City.

O'Connell didn't outduel Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes by any means, but the former also didn't commit a turnover and kept feeding the ball to running back Zamir White, who earned another spot start for Josh Jacobs (quadriceps/illness) and racked up 22 carries for 145 yards. O'Connell benefitted from his defense scoring two defensive touchdowns on back-to-back Kansas City offensive plays late in the second quarter, and the Raiders offense did just enough to outlast the home team. Monday's paltry output was a far cry from the 248 yards and four touchdowns through the air that he contributed to a 63-21 win against the Chargers in Week 15. Nevertheless, O'Connell will turn his focus to Sunday's contest at Indianapolis.

O'Connell completed 20 of 34 passes for 248 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in the Raiders' 63-21 win over the Chargers on Thursday night.

O'Connell was thought to be in danger of potentially losing his job coming into Thursday, considering interim head coach Antonio Pierce declined to name his starter all week. However, the rookie bought himself another game to say the least, racking up a new career high in touchdown passes while connecting with Tre Tucker (30 yards), Jakobi Meyers (22 yards), Michael Mayer (11 yards) and Tre Tucker (20 yards) in the first half. O'COnnell didn't have to do much in the second half, and he'll now have some extra time to relish his first career multi-touchdown game before facing off with Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs on the road in a Week 16 Christmas Day matchup.

Though coach Antonio Pierce has been noncommittal about who will get the signal-caller assignment Thursday night against the Chargers, O'Connell is expected to remain the Raiders' starting QB for the contest, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

There had been some speculation that the Raiders might consider pivoting from O'Connell in Week 15, but it looks like the 2023 fourth-rounder will remain the team's starter versus Los Angeles, though it's possible he could be on a short leash Thursday. In this past Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Vikings, O'Connell completed 21 of his 32 pass attempts for 171 yards with an interception and based on that level of production, he profiles as a hit-or-miss fantasy lineup option this week.

O'Connell completed 21 of 32 passes for 171 yards with an interception in Sunday's 3-0 loss to the Vikings.

In the NFL's lowest-scoring game since 2007, O'Connell struggled to get the Raiders past midfield most of the afternoon, and the team's one trip to the red zone ended on a Hunter Renfrow fumble. It's the first time since Week 9 that the rookie quarterback has failed to throw a touchdown, but O'Connell's 3:5 TD:INT since taking over as Las Vegas' starter illustrates his struggles. The Raiders' passing game gets a better matchup in Week 15 against the Chargers.

O'Connell completed 23 of 33 pass attempts for 248 yards and a touchdown with no turnovers or rushing attempts in Sunday's 31-17 loss to Kansas City.

O'Connell cleaned up his play after throwing three interceptions in last week's loss to Miami, completing 69 percent of his passes with no turnovers committed against the Chiefs on Sunday. While the rookie signal-caller suffered another loss, he appears to be getting more comfortable under center after taking over for Jimmy Garoppolo back in Week 9. O'Connell's low upside and lack of rushing stats keeps him in out of the fantasy picture in most leagues, but he has kept Las Vegas' offense respectable through a midseason coaching staff overhaul. The Raiders will resume play against Minnesota in Week 14 after the upcoming bye week.

O'Connell completed 24 of 41 passes for 271 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions and rushed once for three yards in the Raiders' 20-13 loss to the Dolphins on Sunday. He also rushed once for three yards.

The trio of turnovers are obviously a big blemish, but O'Connell did help keep the Raiders within striking distance despite his mistakes and posted a career-high receiving yardage total in the process. The rookie's final pick of the day also came at the Dolphins six-yard line on a deep ball intended for Tre Tucker, snuffing out Las Vegas' last chance to tie. Despite the stumbles, O'Connell is gaining valuable experience and making progress, but he faces a particularly difficult matchup against the Chiefs' stingy secondary in Week 12.

O'Connell completed 16 of 27 pass attempts for 153 yards, one touchdown and one interception while gaining three yards on two rushing attempts in Sunday's 16-12 win over the Jets.

O'Connell was hovering around a 50 percent completion rate with an interception thrown before dialing it in and throwing the game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter of Sunday's win. The rookie signal-caller still finished with a pedestrian fantasy line despite helping earn his team its second win in his second start in place of the benched Jimmy Garoppolo. O'Connell's physical skill set doesn't project to generate big passing numbers in the Raiders' recent run-heavy gameplan. The rookie should be treated as a low-end option in Week 11 against Miami's aggresive pass rush next Sunday.

O'Connell completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 209 yards with no touchdowns, turnovers or rushing attempts in Sunday's 30-6 win over the Giants.

O'Connell started his second game this season after interim head coach Antonio Pierce shook up the QB depth chart and demoted Jimmy Garoppolo this week. The rookie wasn't directly involved in any of Las Vegas' three trips to the end zone, but he didn't cause any turnovers and was accurate when asked to extend drives. O'Connell figures to have earned another start against the Jets next Sunday following this week's crooked score, but he doesn't carry enough upside to be considered outside of deeper leagues.

Interim head coach Antonio Pierce confirmed Wednesday that O'Connell has been named the Raiders' starting quarterback going forward, Rachel Gossen of the team's official site reports. "We just feel like he gives us the best chance," Pierce said of O'Connell.

The rookie's promotion to the top of the depth chart sends struggling veteran Jimmy Garoppolo into a backup role. In two appearances (one start) this season, O'Connell has accounted from three yards and a touchdown on the ground and has completed 34 of his 52 passing attempts for 313 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Now that he's been installed as Las Vegas' starter, the 2023 fourth-round picks profiles as a lineup option in deeper leagues or in formats that start two quarterbacks or have a QB flex spot. A classic pocket passer who didn't show much scrambling ability during his collegiate career at Purdue, O'Connell appears to have a limited fantasy ceiling, though he'll at least have some capable pass-catching weapons to work with in wideouts Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers and running back Josh Jacobs.

The Raiders plan to move forward with O'Connell as their starting QB, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports.

In the wake of the team having fired coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler, the 3-5 Raiders are also reportedly in line to make a change at quarterback, with O'Connell now on track to start Sunday's game against the Giants in place of Jimmy Garoppolo, who struggled in Las Vegas' Week 8 loss to the Lions. O'Connell thus represents a fantasy lineup option for those who had rostered Garoppolo or who are otherwise in need of signal-caller depth due to injuries or bye weeks.

The Raiders are "leaning toward" having O'Connell start Sunday's game against the Giants, a source tells Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.

Bonsignore's report was published just over an hour after the Raiders fired head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager David Ziegler earlier Wednesday. Interim head coach Antonio Pierce will likely meet with the media later Wednesday to clarify the Raiders' plans at quarterback moving forward, but with Las Vegas sitting on a 3-5 record and not shaping up as a playoff contender, the team may be inclined to evaluate the rookie O'Connell rather than sticking with struggling veteran Jimmy Garoppolo as their starter. O'Connell previously drew a start in place of a concussed Garoppolo in Week 4 against the Chargers and also relieved Brian Hoyer for the second half of a Week 7 loss to the Bears. Between those two contests, O'Connell completed 34 of 52 pass attempts (65.4 percent) for 313 yards (6.0 yards per attempt), one touchdown and two interceptions. He also added a score on the ground.

O'Connell completed 10 of 13 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown with an interception in Sunday's 30-12 loss to the Bears.

Brian Hoyer got the start in Week 7 with Jimmy Garoppolo (back) unavailable but produced almost no offense, so O'Connell took over late in the fourth quarter with the Raiders in a 30-6 hole and proceeded to get picked off on his first drive. The rookie QB redeemed himself on Las Vegas' final possession, finding Jakobi Meyers for a nine-yard score. Garoppolo is expected back in Week 8 against the Lions, but O'Connell could return to the No. 2 spot on the depth chart after Hoyer's poor showing.

O'Connell is in line to serve as Brian Hoyer's backup this Sunday at Chicago with Jimmy Garoppolo (back) ruled out for that contest, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

O'Connell previously got the nod for Garoppolo when the latter missed Week 4 due to a concussion, completing 24 of 39 passes for 238 yards, no touchdowns and one interception, rushing three times for three yards and a TD and fumbling three times (two lost). With Garoppolo now sidelined due to a back injury, Hoyer will get the first chance to step in after leading the Raiders to a 19-17 win against the Patriots this past Sunday. In the end, though, O'Connell is just one play away from seeing his next game action.

O'Connell is inactive for Monday night's game against the Packers.

With Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion) sidelined in Week 4, O'Connell drew the start in the Raiders' 24-17 loss to the Chargers. Now that Garoppolo is back in action, O'Connell will resume a reserve role, while Brian Hoyer is slated to serve as the team's No. 2 QB on Monday.

O'Connell completed 24 of 39 passes for 238 yards, no touchdowns and one interception in Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Chargers. He added three rushes for three yards and a touchdown.

O'Connell drew his first NFL start with Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion) sidelined. As could be expected, he had an uneven performance. Positively, he completed a pair of passes of more than 20 yards, and he also found the end zone for the first time in his career on a quarterback sneak late in the first quarter. However, he also made a lot of mistakes, as he took seven sacks, lost a fumble and also threw an interception from the Chargers' three-yard line on what could have been a game-tying drive late in the final quarter. Garoppolo is likely to be back for a Week 5 matchup against the Packers, though O'Connell could at least be upgraded to the primary backup at the position.

O'Connell is expected to start Sunday's matchup against the Chargers with Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion) ruled out, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.

O'Connell, a rookie fourth-round pick, starting over established veteran Brian Hoyer would be something of an upset, but it appears that he's already made a very good impression on Las Vegas' coaching staff. The unproven rookie stepping in under center could be reason for a slight downgrade to the fantasy prospects of Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers, though at this point his upside is likely higher than that of the 37-year-old Hoyer. O'Connell does at least face a favorable matchup against the Chargers' league-worst pass defense.

O'Connell (coach's decision) is inactive for Sunday's matchup against the Broncos, but he'll dress and serve as the Raiders' emergency quarterback.

A rookie fourth-round pick, O'Connell shined during preseason action, but he's still behind veterans Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer on the depth chart. O'Connell doesn't count against the 53-man roster, but he's eligible to play if both Garoppolo and Hoyer are forced out of the contest.

O'Connell completed 17 of 26 passes for 178 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in Saturday's 31-16 preseason loss to the Cowboys.

O'Connell played the first three quarters of the matchup and wrapped up the first preseason of his professional career. Overall, he completed 43 of 62 passes for 482 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions across three games. O'Connell may enter the season as the Raiders' third quarterback, but he should have a chance to pass Brian Hoyer at some point.

O'Connell completed 15 of 18 pass attempts for 141 yards, one touchdown and no turnovers in Sunday's 34-7 preseason win over San Francisco.

O'Connell got the starting nod with the veterans atop Las Vegas' QB depth chart -- Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer -- sitting out this exhibition game. The fourth-round selection did not look like a rookie in a tough matchup, albeit against the 49ers' B-squad of defenders. The 25-year-old played four years at Purdue, so he has more seasoning than most rookie quarterbacks. O'Connell should get plenty of run in the Raiders' next preseason tilt against the Rams on Saturday.

The Raiders selected O'Connell in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 135th overall.

O'Connell (6-foot-3, 213 pounds) never showed obvious starting upside at Purdue but he's well time-tested after more or less serving as a four-year starter for the Boilermakers. O'Connell did a pretty good job of moving the ball, producing 9,219 yards while completing 66.7 percent of his passes at 7.4 yards per attempt, but the touchdown rate (5.3 percent) and interception rate (2.4 percent) were respectively too low and too high for a soon-to-be 25-year-old quarterback project as more than a backup in the NFL.

The Raiders selected O'Connell in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, 135th overall.

O'Connell (6-foot-3, 213 pounds) never showed obvious starting upside at Purdue but he's well time-tested after more or less serving as a four-year starter for the Boilermakers. O'Connell did a pretty good job of moving the ball, producing 9,219 yards while completing 66.7 percent of his passes at 7.4 yards per attempt, but the touchdown rate (5.3 percent) and interception rate (2.4 percent) were respectively too low and too high for a soon-to-be 25-year-old quarterback project as more than a backup in the NFL.