HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders coach Antonio Pierce announced that quarterback Aidan O’Connell was designated to return from injured reserve Monday and will participate in a walk-through Tuesday. O’Connell has been sidelined since suffering a broken thumb on his throwing hand against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7. Pierce wouldn’t say definitively whether he’ll play against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday.
What does Pierce need to see from O’Connell to get the go-ahead to play?
“Just seeing him being able to grip the ball comfortably — hopefully there’s no pain there — and just being able to be efficient,” Pierce said Monday. “To put a player out there that’s hurting or injured still, that’s not in the benefit of the player or the team.”
🔴📽️ Live: Antonio Pierce addresses the media from the Intermountain Health Performance Center. https://t.co/l9QnXMxb9f
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 25, 2024
Quarterback Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending broken collarbone against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, so the path could be cleared for O’Connell to start for the rest of the regular season.
Pierce deferred to general manager Tom Telesco when asked whether the Raiders would put in a waiver claim Monday for quarterback Daniel Jones, who was released by the New York Giants last week. If Jones clears waivers, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.
“We’ll see whether that happens by the end of the day,” Pierce said.
O’Connell had replaced a benched Minshew against the Broncos in Week 6, and the plan was for him to be the starter the rest of the way — until he got hurt against the Rams. The 26-year-old out of Purdue is eager to get back on the field, but the coaching staff will be cautious on a short week. If he can’t play — and the Raiders don’t add outside help — they’ll start third-year quarterback Desmond Ridder on Black Friday against the Chiefs.
“At the quarterback position, you’ve got to be smart,” Pierce said. “(O’Connell’s) future is much brighter looking ahead. He’s a young player. We’ve just got to be smart. We have a good relationship, Aidan and myself, and he speaks honestly with me, and I speak honestly with him.”
It’s been a limited sample size for O’Connell this season. He’s played in four games, but started only two of them and has just 82 passing attempts. He’s completed 63.4 percent of those passes for 455 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
O’Connell started 10 games as a rookie last season, including all nine of Pierce’s games as interim head coach. Considering the circumstances — he was replacing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo after former head coach Josh McDaniels and former offensive coordinator Mick Lombardi were fired — he was solid. He finished the season with a 62.1 completion percentage, 2,218 passing yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions and posted a 5-5 record as the starter.
While O’Connell entered this past offseason as the incumbent starter, the Raiders still signed Minshew to a two-year, $25 million deal in March and were interested in drafting a quarterback in April. They did not, however, which left them with a quarterback room led by Minshew and O’Connell.
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The two quarterbacks were in a position battle throughout OTAs and training camp before Minshew emerged as the victor. Telesco, Pierce and former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy felt more comfortable with Minshew’s experience and mobility.
It wound up being a disaster. In 10 games of action, Minshew committed 14 turnovers (tied for the most in the NFL) and was benched three times before he got injured last week.
Now, O’Connell could have a six-game run to show how much progress he’s made. Despite being only in his second season, he’ll already have his fourth offensive play caller in interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner. The Raiders (2-9) are in the midst of a seven-game losing streak and have been allergic to scoring points all season long. They’re averaging just 18.7 points per game (26th) and have only improved slightly to 19 points per game in Turner’s two games in charge.
It’ll go a long way if O’Connell can make a difference. The Raiders will explore their options at quarterback this offseason regardless, but there’s still significance in O’Connell having the opportunity to show he deserves to be in the mix.
“These younger guys are understanding that this is their opportunity the last six weeks of the season,” Pierce said. “You don’t know how this bad boy is going to go in the offseason. … What do the 2025 Raiders look like, and are you a part of that? … It’s important for these guys to put their best foot forward and, really, for all of our players and myself included (along with the coaching) staff, to show that we’re fighting and there’s no give and no tanking or any of that B.S. that’s being said. We’re trying to win every game possible.”
Required reading
• Raiders were a mess at QB before Gardner Minshew’s injury and need a fix this offseason
• Raiders QB Gardner Minshew out for season with broken collarbone
• Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell expected to miss 4-6 weeks
(Photo: Candice Ward / Getty Images)
