The Las Vegas Raiders are enduring a tough season, marked by struggles that have gone from bad to worse. While many experts had low expectations for the team heading into the year, their performance has still been disappointing. The latest setback came last week when starting quarterback Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending collarbone injury, further compounding their challenges.
In response, the Raiders are turning to a familiar face to lead the offense. Aidan O’Connell, who started most of last season for the team, is stepping in as QB1 for their upcoming game against the Kansas City Chiefs, per a report by Tom Pelissero. O’Connell, a second-year quarterback from Purdue, began this season as the backup to Minshew. Despite losing the starting job initially, injuries to Minshew have provided O’Connell opportunities to see the field this year.
So far this season, O’Connell has appeared in four games, starting twice. He has thrown for 455 yards, completing 63.4% of his passes, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Last year, O’Connell replaced Jimmy Garoppolo for 10 starts and showed promise. He racked up 2,218 yards, a 62.1% completion rate, and posted 12 touchdowns against seven interceptions. While he proved to be a capable starter last season, the context has shifted significantly in 2024.
The Raiders are now sitting at a dismal 2-9 following a loss to the Denver Broncos. With playoff hopes all but dashed, the team’s focus has shifted to playing spoiler in the remaining games. Their next challenge is the division-leading Kansas City Chiefs, who narrowly avoided an upset against the Carolina Panthers last week. While the Raiders face long odds, they have an opportunity to disrupt the Chiefs’ playoff momentum with O’Connell at the helm.