Breaking News: Raiders’ QB Aidan O’Connell’s Injury

The Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, is expected to be sidelined for four to six weeks due to a right-hand thumb fracture. O’Connell, seen with a heavily bandaged thumb following a 20-15 defeat to the Los Angeles Rams, will undergo further medical evaluations. The QB recalled suffering a similar injury during his middle school years.

O’Connell’s Injury in Detail

The injury occurred during the second offensive series of the Raiders, where O’Connell was aiming for a deep pass to the right and was hit by Rams safety Kamren Curl. With no receiver nearby, O’Connell was penalized for intentional grounding. O’Connell managed to connect with receiver DJ Turner for a 10-yard gain in the following play, which turned out to be his last in the game.

O’Connell’s Performance and Reaction Post Injury

In the game where he replaced Gardner Minshew, O’Connell completed 6 of 10 passes for 52 yards against the Rams. O’Connell faced pressure in half of his dropbacks and managed 19 yards when under pressure. Lamenting the injury, O’Connell expressed disappointment at the untimely occurrence, which cut short his much-anticipated opportunity.

Minshew, who had been replaced by O’Connell, stepped in for the injured QB. Minshew, who had signed a two-year, $15 million guaranteed contract as a free agent, had previously won a closely contested training camp battle.

Minshew’s Struggles and the Raiders’ Quarterback Situation

Minshew’s Battle Against O’Connell

Minshew demonstrated impressive performance during his face-off with O’Connell, achieving a career-best completion rate of 70.7% with 1,014 passing yards and four touchdowns across five starting games. However, his performance was marred with five interceptions during these matches. Prior to his replacement, Minshew’s last game was marked by a 100-yard pick-six against the Denver Broncos in the fifth week, which flipped a potential 17-3 Raiders advantage into a 10-10 stalemate, culminating in a 34-18 Raiders defeat. At the time of his replacement, Minshew’s QBR had plummeted to an all-time low of 40.2.

Minshew’s Performance Against the Rams

In his recent face-off with the Rams, Minshew was accountable for four turnovers, consisting of three interceptions and a fumble, which was recovered and returned 33 yards for a touchdown by Curl. His performance was 15-of-34 for 154 yards, and he finished with a dismal career-low single-game rating of 21.0. This season, Minshew has recorded eight interceptions and has fumbled thrice, with two losses. His ten turnovers are at par with Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis, leading the NFL.

Minshew’s Reaction and Future Plans

“It’s extremely frustrating to have turned the ball over like this,” Minshew expressed, “It’s a first for me. Our strategy is to continue analyzing, studying and training, developing good habits to overcome this situation.” He attributed part of the issue to aggressive ball handling and poor ball placement, such as in the case with DJ Turner.

The Raiders’ Quarterback Options

The Raiders’ only other contract quarterback is the unproven rookie, Carter Bradley, who is part of the practice squad but has not made his NFL debut yet. The Raiders had also enlisted veteran Nathan Peterman for two weeks during their training camp, but he is currently part of the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad.