NFL Week 7 live updates: Patriots-Jaguars from Wembley, Haason Reddick holdout ends, league schedule, predictions, odds
By Tashan Reed, Vic Tafur, Jeff Howe and Jelani Scott
The Las Vegas Raiders found themselves once again facing uncertainty at quarterback this season following an injury to starter Aidan O’Connell on Sunday. O’Connell is believed to have sustained a broken thumb on his right hand against the Los Angeles Rams, according to league sources and O’Connell’s agent.
The second-year quarterback suffered the injury late in the first quarter with Gardner Minshew replacing him. O’Connell is set to undergo further testing, according to sources.
O’Connell’s injury occurred during the Raiders’ second drive of the game, when he hit his hand on the helmet of Rams safety Kam Curl on an incompletion that resulted in an intentional grounding penalty. Prior to exiting, O’Connell was 6-of-10 passing for 52 yards.
After serving as the backup behind Minshew for the first five games of the season, O’Connell took over as the starter last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. He struggled in the Raiders’ loss as he completed 67.5 percent of his passes for 227 yards, one touchdown and one interception, but the team was comfortable with him acting as the starter moving forward.
With O’Connell sidelined for the remainder of Sunday’s matchup, it’s worth noting just how dire Las Vegas’ situation is at the position after an already tumultuous first half of the season.
The Raiders did not designate a third quarterback for this game, as rookie Carter Bradley is on the practice squad. Emergency quarterback Jakobi Meyers is inactive with an ankle injury, so it’s unknown what the Raiders would do if Minshew was injured.
(Photo: Chris Unger / Getty Images)
