The biggest question coming into this season for the Las Vegas Raiders was who was going to lead the team at quarterback. Gardner Minshew began the season under center, but turnover issues led Antonio Pierce to turn to Aidan O’Connell, who ended last season as the starter.
Unfortunately for O’Connell, his time under center was short-lived as he suffered an injury in the first quarter of the Raiders’ contest against the Los Angeles Rams. O’Connell’s hand collided with the helmet of a Rams defender as he threw a pass and he did not return to the game.
O’Connell didn’t return to the game, and as it turns out, the quarterback suffered a fractured thumb on the play and will be out 4-to-6 weeks as the Raiders have placed him on injured reserve, via Ian Rapaport of NFL Network:
#Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell is heading to Injured Reserve with a fractured thumb, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo following tests.
O’Connell, who had resumed starting before his injury, is out 4-6 weeks. He has a chance to return the season. pic.twitter.com/NKLByRwU8c
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 21, 2024
It was an untimely injury for O’Connell, who had the chance to solidify himself as an NFL starter. It is still possible he will return this season and could get another opportunity if Minshew continues to struggle as he did on Sunday against the Rams.
Minshew completed just 44.1% of his passes and had four turnovers in the Raiders’ 20-15 loss in Los Angeles as the offense failed to reach the end zone, all of their points coming off Daniel Carlson’s field goals. It was the third straight loss for the Raiders, who are on the brink of this season and are going completely off the rails.
Minshew is tied for the league lead with eight interceptions, so he must get that together if the Raiders want any hope of turning this season around. And there is no doubt O’Connell will be pushing to get healthy as quickly as he can so he can be back on the field.
Maxx Crosby says he isn’t with Raiders to Rebuild
This is on the verge of being another lost season for the Raiders, which is not what superstar defensive end Maxx Crosby is looking for. Following the trade of Davante Adams, there was some speculation about the Raiders possibly looking to tear everything down and rebuild, which was not in the mind of the team captain.
Crosby clarified that he is not with the Raiders to rebuild; he wants to win, which is the most important thing to him. Crosby has been open about his desire to remain with this franchise for his career, but if the team isn’t committed to winning, he will have a problem.
