Raiders Turn to Aidan O’Connell as Starting QB Against Chiefs
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders are making a bold move this Black Friday, as rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell will take the reins against the powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs. Head coach Antonio Pierce confirmed the decision on Wednesday, signaling a fresh start for the struggling Raiders, who are tied for the worst record in the NFL at 2-9.
O’Connell, who has been sidelined since October 22 with a broken thumb on his throwing hand, is ready to return to action. “Aidan’s looking good,” Pierce said. “We’ll throw the ball a little bit today in practice, but he’s done good over the last two days with some walk-throughs and, obviously, [practicing] indoors. We feel good about Aidan. He’s been dialed in, obviously, throughout this time that he’s been on IR. He’s done all the meetings. He’s been very encouraging on the sideline. He’s got that laser-eye focus right now. Great opportunity for him.”
O’Connell’s practice window opened on Monday, and the rookie has been working hard to get back to game shape. “It’s not 100%, but it’s pretty close,” O’Connell said on Tuesday. “It’s felt pretty good the last few days throwing. I got to throw starting a little bit in the last couple of weeks, and that’s been good. It’s been kind of horrible not being able to do that. To be able to go out there and grip the football and throw a little bit has been awesome. So, yeah, we’re progressing how we want to … it’s not just throwing the ball 5 yards to a guy, it’s throwing routes deeper and things like that.”
O’Connell’s Journey Back to the Field
The rookie quarterback’s season has been anything but smooth. After losing a training camp battle to free-agent signee Gardner Minshew, O’Connell stepped in during Week 6 when Minshew struggled. However, his second start against the Los Angeles Rams on October 22 ended in disaster when he broke his thumb on a follow-through of a pass attempt.
“It was a bone break, so there’s not a lot you can do except sit there and wait, which isn’t ideal,” O’Connell explained. “But there’s some modalities you can do in the training room and then just trying to get soft tissue on it and range of motion, all those things. But yeah, a lot of it was sitting around and waiting, which is not my favorite thing.”
With O’Connell sidelined, Minshew resumed starting duties until he suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in the Raiders’ 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos last Sunday. This opened the door for O’Connell to return, having sat out the required four games to come off injured reserve.
What the Numbers Say
O’Connell has appeared in four games this season, including two starts. He has completed 52 of 82 passes for 455 yards, with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He has been sacked three times. Meanwhile, Desmond Ridder, who was signed off the Arizona Cardinals‘ practice squad on October 22, has played sparingly in three games. Ridder has completed 16 of 26 passes for 138 yards and a touchdown, with one lost fumble and six sacks.
Interestingly, O’Connell is the last quarterback to beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. He helped lead the Raiders to a 20-14 victory there last Christmas Day, though he didn’t complete a pass after the first quarter. Can he replicate that magic against a Chiefs team that is tied with the Lions for the best record in the NFL at 10-1?
David vs. Goliath
Coach Pierce isn’t shying away from the challenge. “Let’s call a spade a spade … the best team in football against the worst team in football,” Pierce said. “Let’s change the narrative, right? Let’s just go out there, make it a dog fight, make it ugly, make it scrappy. It’s Black Friday, let’s create a little chaos. Get back to Raider football and have some fun and [show] some personality and let it loose.”
It’s a tall order for the Raiders, who are desperate to salvage some pride in a season that has spiraled out of control. But with O’Connell back under center, there’s a glimmer of hope for a team looking to shock the NFL world. Will the rookie rise to the occasion, or will the Chiefs continue their dominance? All eyes will be on Arrowhead Stadium this Friday to find out.
Key Takeaways
- Aidan O’Connell will start for the Raiders against the Chiefs after recovering from a broken thumb.
- The Chiefs are tied for the best record in the NFL at 10-1, while the Raiders are tied for the worst at 2-9.
- O’Connell is the last quarterback to beat the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, achieving the feat last Christmas Day.
- Coach Antonio Pierce is urging his team to embrace the underdog role and “create a little chaos.”
Can the Raiders pull off the upset of the season? Or will the Chiefs prove why they’re the NFL’s top team? One thing’s for sure: this Black Friday showdown is one you won’t want to miss.
Originally Written by: Paul Gutierrez
