Raiders ramp up O’Connell in light of Minshew’s season-ending injury

Nov 26, 2024, 7:45 AM

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 13: Aidan O'Connell #12 of the Las Vegas Raiders looks to throw a pass ...

(Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images)

Sactown Sports

Las Vegas quarterback Gardner Minshew is out for the season due to a broken collarbone, head coach Antonio Pierce confirmed on Monday, leaving the Raiders with a short week to determine their starter.

Minshew suffered the injury when he was sacked and landed on his left shoulder late in the fourth quarter of Las Vegas’ 29-19 home loss to the Denver Broncos.

Former starter Aidan O’Connell, who was sidelined by a thumb injury in Week 7, could return off injured reserve in time for the Raiders (2-9) to face the two-time reigning Super Bowl champion Chiefs (10-1) on Friday in Kansas City.

Antonio Pierce confirms Minshew out for the season, Aidan O’Connell ‘ramping up’https://t.co/7lYr3Dgfee

— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 25, 2024

More on the Las Vegas Raiders

“We’ll see if Aidan is good to go,” Pierce said. “He’s been ramping up.”

O’Connell entered the 21-day practice window on Monday as the Raiders determine when to activate him.

“Seeing him able to grip the ball comfortable, hopefully, no pain there, and just being able to be efficient,” Pierce said. “To put a player out there that’s hurting or injured still, that’s not to the benefit of the player or our team.”

O’Connell, 26, has played in four games this season, starting two (both losses). He is 52 of 82 (63.4 percent) for 455 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.

As a rookie last season, O’Connell started 10 of 11 games, going 5-5, and completed 213 of 343 passes (62.1 percent) for 2,218 yards, 12 TDs and seven interceptions.

The Raiders selected O’Connell in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

“Obviously at the quarterback position, you’ve got to be smart,” Pierce said. “I think with Aidan, his future’s much brighter looking ahead. … I’ll have to really rely on our doctors and medical staff.”

Desmond Ridder replaced Minshew and went 5 of 10 for 64 yards. Ridder, 25, has appeared in three games this season for Las Vegas and is 16 of 26 (61.5 percent) for 138 yards and one TD.

Ridder played the previous two seasons for the Atlanta Falcons, who selected him in the third round of the 2022 draft. For his career, he is 338 of 529 (63.9 percent) for 3,682 yards, 15 TDs and 12 interceptions in 22 games (17 starts, 8-9 record).

Minshew, 28, completed 25 of 42 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Broncos. He finished his first season with the Raiders with 2,013 yards, nine TDs and 10 picks on 66.3 percent passing.

He joined the Raiders in free agency after stints in Jacksonville (2019-20), Philadelphia (2021-22) and Indianapolis (2023) and won the starting job in camp. But he was benched multiple times for O’Connell as the Raiders struggled as a team.

–Field Level Media