Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell did not play in Monday night’s game against the Atlanta Falcons, allowing Desmond Ridder to start against his former team.
O’Connell hurt his left knee on December 8 during a game against Tampa Bay.
Ridder played 13 games for the Falcons last season before being traded to Arizona. The Raiders signed him off the Cardinals’ practice squad on October 21.
“Whether it’s against the Falcons — it doesn’t matter who it’s against — any opportunity that I get to go out there and showcase my talents, it’s an exciting time,” Ridder said Wednesday.
Ridder has played as a backup in four games, completing 28 of 44 passes for 239 yards and one touchdown, with no interceptions.
Carter Bradley, the son of Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, was Ridder’s backup on Monday night.
O’Connell has faced several setbacks this season, starting in the preseason.
He lost the starting job to Gardner Minshew. Coach Antonio Pierce benched Minshew after five games, but O’Connell broke his thumb in a game against the Los Angeles Rams and missed almost six weeks.
Two games after returning, O’Connell was pushed to the ground by Buccaneers defensive lineman Calijah Kancey.
The injury seemed worse than it was, and O’Connell even participated in a walk-through practice on Wednesday. But he did not practice the following three days.
