HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffered a bone bruise to his left knee, exams revealed, within the group’s loss Sunday, a supply informed ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
O’Connell wish to attempt to play within the Raiders’ subsequent recreation, a “Monday Night time Soccer” contest towards the Atlanta Falcons, the supply informed Schefter.
Earlier within the day, earlier than the check outcomes have been out there, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce mentioned Desmond Ridder will begin if O’Connell is unable to play.
O’Connell was injured late within the third quarter of the Raiders’ 28-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was scrambling towards the sideline and, after throwing a cross, was pushed from behind by Buccaneers defensive deal with Calijah Kancey and landed awkwardly. O’Connell was carted off the sector along with his injured leg in an air forged. Pierce mentioned following the sport that, after watching a replay, he thought the hit was late. No flag was thrown.
The Raiders (2-11) have misplaced 9 straight video games, their longest in-season shedding streak since they opened the 2014 marketing campaign 0-10.
The Falcons (6-7) drafted Ridder within the third spherical, No. 74 total, in 2022 out of Cincinnati.
“God works in mysterious methods,” Ridder mentioned Sunday of probably beginning towards the Falcons, following his fourth aid look of the season for Las Vegas. He has performed 62 snaps for the Raiders.
“Like I’ve mentioned, I am grateful for anytime I can be on this place, to have the ability to go on the market and contact grass and be capable to go on the market and play with my 10 different brothers on the sector. Like we have mentioned, we all know it is a Monday night time recreation. We all know, for myself personally, what the sport will imply. However, I imply, I am excited. I am able to get again to work.”
Ridder, after 19 video games over two seasons with Atlanta and an 8-9 document because the Falcons’ starter, was launched Aug. 27. A day later, he was signed to the Arizona Cardinals’ apply squad.
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The Raiders signed him Oct. 22, two days after O’Connell suffered a damaged thumb on his proper (passing) hand.
“He is been good,” Pierce mentioned of Ridder. “I imply, oddly sufficient, he is performed loads of video games, proper? It is the best way the season has gone for us.
“However there’s been some vibrant spots there, another spots we want we had again, however what we do see is a man who could be very aggressive, that takes his job critical. And he has a chance, if Aiden’s not capable of go and he is a starter, it is one other nice alternative for him to showcase himself.”
O’Connell on Sunday was making his second begin since his return from injured reserve. He has thrown for 899 yards with 4 touchdowns and three interceptions in six video games this season, finishing 63.2% of his passes.
Gardner Minshew, who beat out O’Connell in a coaching camp battle however was benched in favor of the second-year quarterback, reassumed the beginning job when O’Connell went down. Minshew then suffered a season-ending damaged collarbone in Week 12.
The one different quarterback below contract with the Raiders is undrafted rookie Carter Bradley, who’s on the apply squad.
Different quarterbacks on apply squads across the league with beginning expertise the Raiders might contemplate if O’Connell cannot play embody Trevor Siemian (Tennessee Titans), Mike White (Buffalo Payments) and Nathan Peterman (Falcons). Peterman was with the Raiders in coaching camp.
Ridder, in the meantime, has handed for 3,783 yards with 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his profession whereas finishing 64% of his makes an attempt. He has a passer score of 84.2.
“Clearly, the group and the sport that we’ll play subsequent week goes to be huge, and it is clearly an enormous stage, however this group’s excited,” Ridder mentioned. “This group’s prepared to only get a win, able to put 4 quarters collectively, 60 minutes collectively, to have the ability to go on the market and, on the finish of the day, put up extra factors than the opposite group. How we try this, we have got to determine that out.”
