Aidan O’Connell is taken off the field after an injury
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell was taken off the field on a cart after injuring his knee in the second half of Sunday’s 28-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The injury occurred after O’Connell threw an 8-yard pass to Jakobi Meyers on third down. Bucs defensive lineman Calijah Kancey chased O’Connell out of the pocket and pushed him from behind after the pass was thrown. Kancey was not penalized for the hit.
The Raiders have not commented on the severity of the injury. “It doesn’t look good… We asked (the medical staff) per usual… and will see what (the report) comes back like on Monday or Tuesday,” said Raiders coach Antonio Pierce about O’Connell’s status. “Prayers to him. I pray for a speedy recovery,” Kancey added. “I hope everything’s good on their end. I definitely took a knee and prayed for him.”
O’Connell left the game with the Raiders trailing 14-10, and Desmond Ridder replaced him on the next series. O’Connell, who had a career-high 340 yards and two touchdowns the previous week, was 11 of 19 for 104 yards and threw a costly interception on a 16-play drive in the third quarter. He also scored the Raiders’ only touchdown on a 1-yard run in the second quarter.
Aidan O’Connell is taken off the field after an injury1
Ridder led the Raiders on a field-goal drive in the fourth quarter and finished the game 12 of 18 for 101 yards. With O’Connell’s injury uncertain, Ridder may be the starting quarterback for the Raiders’ next game on Monday, Dec. 16, at home against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons.
“I’m excited and ready to go. … We’ve got to find a way to go out there and be able to execute on offense, defense, and special teams to be able to go out there and get a win,” Ridder said.
Las Vegas (2-11) has lost nine consecutive games. “I’m grateful for any time I’m able to be in this position… We know it’s a Monday Night game. We know, for myself personally, what the game will mean,” Ridder said. “But I’m excited and ready to get back to work.”
Antonio Pierce, the Raiders’ head coach and a former nine-year NFL player, believes there is no tight end quite like Brock Bowers. Despite being a rookie, Bowers is playing as if he’s been in the league for years.
Bowers, drafted 13th overall from Georgia, is posting impressive numbers. Pierce praises Bowers for his combination of size (6-foot-4, 230 pounds), athleticism, strength, and reliable hands. Despite facing double teams and top cornerbacks, Bowers continues to excel.
“They know we’re going to throw him the ball and we’re going to keep throwing him the ball,” Pierce said. “He’s winning those matchups. I just think the way he plays the game after he has the ball, it’s really like a running back. He’s a receiver when the ball is in the air, and when he has a ball in his hand, he’s punishing people.”
Raiders Head Coach Antonio Pierce Criticizes Team Effort After Embarrassing Loss to Panthers in Home Opener
Pierce continued, “I can’t really speak highly enough about this player. This player is doing a hell of a job this year for us, and it’s no secret what we’re going to do each and every play when there’s an opportunity to throw it to 89.”
Looking at Bowers from a historical perspective:
He leads all NFL receivers with 84 receptions, the first time a tight end has topped the chart this late in the season since Todd Christensen in 1986.
He is close to breaking the rookie tight end record for single-season catches, which is currently 86 by Sam LaPorta in 2023.
He has had three games with 10 or more receptions, joining Odell Beckham Jr. (2014) and Jaylen Waddle (2021) as the only rookies to do so.
With 884 yards, Bowers is near the 1,000-yard mark for rookie tight ends. Only Mike Ditka (1961) and Kyle Pitts (2021) have reached that milestone.
Joe Horrigan, former executive director of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, says comparing eras is tough due to how the tight end position has evolved from a blocking role to a more involved part of the passing game. However, he compares Bowers to Hall of Fame tight end Kellen Winslow, who had a remarkable career after starting just once as a rookie.
“Everybody recognized Kellen Winslow as a remarkable not just tight end but athlete,” Horrigan said. “He was pretty exciting to watch. That’s where I look at these tight ends today, and Brock’s a perfect example. There’s more focus on them because they’re so effective in the way they play and how they’re used.”
Bowers has been impressive in recent games, including two of the past three with double-digit catches and over 100 yards. Despite his success, he often feels like he’s not playing well during games.
“I think it helps me play a little better when I think I’m not doing well,” Bowers said.
Even Bowers might find it hard to identify weaknesses in his performance during a 19-17 loss to Kansas City. Despite facing a top-10 defense and a rookie quarterback, Aidan O’Connell, Bowers had 10 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown.
Aidan O’Connell throws a pass in the 1st half
“I think you could probably put a lot of quarterbacks in and have good chemistry with Brock,” O’Connell said.
With five games left, Bowers has the opportunity to break more records, putting him in the running for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
“I’ve never played with anybody like him,” said veteran running back Ameer Abdullah. “When it comes to speed, I think of somebody like Darren Waller, who can catch the ball and run away from people. He has that type of speed, but he also has a certain body control I’ve never seen, a certain poise that I haven’t seen in a rookie.”
“I can’t compare him to anybody, and I don’t think we should.”
Aidan O’Connell may not be the perfect choice for the Raiders long-term, but he is the right choice for now.
In Friday’s 19-17 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, O’Connell showed that he will be the Raiders’ quarterback for the rest of the season — unless another injury happens.
O’Connell didn’t seem like a quarterback who hadn’t played in almost six weeks due to a broken thumb. Plus, the Raiders had a short week to get ready for the Chiefs, which meant O’Connell only had walk-through practices to prepare.
Despite that, he completed 23 of 35 passes for 340 yards, including two touchdown passes: one for 33 yards to tight end Brock Bowers and another for 58 yards to wide receiver Tre Tucker. He did not throw any interceptions.
“Thought he competed,” said coach Antonio Pierce on Saturday morning. “I thought for what we knew we were getting with Spags (Kansas City defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo) and that defense, that he stood in the pocket, made some tough throws, took some hits, took the shots down the field like we wanted.
We had some opportunities to take shots down the field, he threw them. And I thought our skill guys did a hell of a job competing and making some really good plays for us.”
Aidan O’Connell throws a pass in the 1st half
O’Connell’s performance would have been even better if not for the Raiders’ final offensive play.
He moved the team from their 8-yard line to the Chiefs’ 32 with 15 seconds left. The plan was for O’Connell to take the snap, throw the ball away to run off a few more seconds, and then have Daniel Carlson attempt the potential winning field goal without giving Patrick Mahomes enough time to lead another comeback.
However, rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball earlier than O’Connell expected, and the Chiefs recovered to secure another close, last-minute victory.
The Raiders were called for an illegal shift, which Kansas City declined. However, there was some question about whether the officials had planned to call a false start instead. Although a false start would have cost the Raiders 5 yards, the penalty still would have given Carlson a chance to attempt the field goal.
Pierce mentioned that his team heard an official’s whistle before the snap, and this would be included in the Raiders’ report to the NFL.
“We do that every game,” Pierce said. “Typically, anywhere from three to five questions, and then we’ll get a letter within 24 to 36 hours, and we’ll read it and learn from it.”
Andy Reid watches from the sidelines in the 1st half
Running back Isiah Pacheco and defensive end Charles Omenihu made their much-anticipated return to the Kansas City Chiefs just in time to play against the Las Vegas Raiders on Friday.
The Raiders were missing some key players, including running back Alexander Mattison, who was out with an ankle injury, and Zamir White, who was out with a quadriceps injury. This left Ameer Abdullah, Dylan Laube, and practice squad player Sincere McCormick as the only available running backs.
Aidan O’Connell started at quarterback for the Raiders, as Gardner Minshew broke his collarbone in a game against Denver last week.
After the Dolphins lost to Green Bay on Thursday night, the Chiefs just needed to beat the Raiders for the eighth time in their last nine meetings to secure their 10th consecutive playoff spot. The NFL record for consecutive playoff appearances is held by the Patriots with 11.
Pacheco had been out since Week 2, when he broke his right fibula against Cincinnati. Omenihu had been out since tearing his ACL in his right knee during last year’s playoff run, an injury that caused him to miss the Chiefs’ Super Bowl victory.
Pacheco is expected to share carries with Kareem Hunt, who had been playing well during his absence.
“When they’re up and running, we feel pretty strong about who they are and how much they can help us,” said Kansas City offensive coordinator Matt Nagy. “And we’re excited about it.”
Gardner Minshew throws in the 1st half
Omenihu is expected to help strengthen the Chiefs’ pass rush, which has only 21 sacks this season, ranking just ahead of four other NFL teams.
As expected, Matthew Wright was active for the game against the Raiders to handle the kicking duties. Spencer Shrader, who had been filling in for Harrison Butker (on injured reserve due to knee surgery), was also active, despite pulling his hamstring earlier in the week.
Kansas City had several inactives, including offensive linemen C.J. Hanson, Ethan Driskell, and D.J. Humphries, as well as defensive linemen Marlon Tuipulotu and Malik Herring. Humphries, a former Pro Bowl player with Arizona, recently joined the team after completing rehab from an ACL injury and hopes to help at left tackle in the coming weeks.
“We’ll just play it by ear,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “I told him, ‘Let’s just keep the communication open and we’ll figure it out.’ That’s kind of what we’ve done with the other guys that have come in and we’ll just keep open communication. He seems like a guy that’ll shoot you straight so that’s what I’d expect.”
The Chiefs also promoted tight end Anthony Firkser after placing Peyton Hendershot on injured reserve to provide extra depth against the Raiders.
The Raiders were also missing cornerback Nate Hobbs, who had an ankle injury, and cornerback Jakorian Bennett, who went on IR with a shoulder injury from a couple of weeks ago.
To help fill in, the Raiders added wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. and cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly from the practice squad to face Kansas City. Other inactives for the Raiders included tight end Harrison Bryant, offensive lineman Cody Whitehair, defensive lineman Matthew Butler, and wide receiver Ramel Keyton.
Kansas City Chiefs holds the recovery ball in the 2nd half
The Kansas City Chiefs have made a habit of winning in unexpected ways.
The way they beat the Raiders on Friday still had Patrick Mahomes and his teammates surprised.
Mahomes, a two-time MVP, was watching from the sideline as the Las Vegas Raiders got close to scoring a winning field goal with just 15 seconds left. But they made a mistake when they botched the snap on the final play. This gave the Chiefs a chance to win the game 19-17, also securing their 10th straight playoff spot, which is the second-longest streak in NFL history.
“Obviously a big stop in a big moment that got us the win,” Mahomes said.
The Raiders (2-10) started their drive from their own 8-yard line with just under two minutes left. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell quickly moved the ball past midfield. He then spiked the ball at the Kansas City 32 to stop the clock.
Instead of going for a field goal — as kicker Daniel Carlson had missed three kicks from over 50 yards — the Raiders decided to run a play and try to get a few more yards before time ran out.
Daniel Carlson reacts after missing a field goal
But with the loud noise from the crowd at Arrowhead Stadium, rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball when O’Connell wasn’t ready, and it hit the quarterback’s shoulder. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton jumped on the ball, and the recovery stood after a flag revealed an illegal shift by the Raiders.
“I actually didn’t watch,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said about the final play. “That last play there was a lot going on, from the officiating to the flags to the ball being snapped.”
Mahomes finished the game with 306 yards passing and a touchdown. Matt Wright, the fill-in kicker, made four field goals for the Chiefs, who are the two-time defending Super Bowl champions and won their NFL record-extending 14th consecutive one-possession game.
Like many of their games, including last week’s last-second win over Carolina, the Chiefs didn’t seem to be in a celebrating mood.
“I mean, we just hold ourselves to such a high standard. We don’t feel like we’re playing our best football,” Mahomes said. “We have to find a way to build up to play great (as) a full, entire team. It’s awesome that we’re finding ways to get wins. That’s what you’re going for. But our goal is to get to the Super Bowl.”
The Raiders had a chance to take the lead earlier in the fourth quarter when O’Connell moved them past midfield. But the Chiefs forced three incomplete passes — including two from George Karlaftis and Justin Reid — to bring up fourth down.
Carlson came onto the field, but his 58-yard field goal try with 2:21 left never had a chance to go through the uprights.
O’Connell finished the game with 340 yards passing and two touchdowns for the Raiders, who have now lost eight of their last nine games to the Chiefs. Brock Bowers had 10 catches for 140 yards and one touchdown.
“These guys battled until the very end, until the clock hit zero,” Pierce said. “They believed we were going to win and fought their (butts) off to the very end. All phases contributed to help us get in that position, but Aiden did a hell of a job. He stayed in the pocket, made big-time throws for us, pushed the ball down the field. The numbers say what they’re going to say. I’m proud of my team, our team. I’m proud of the fight. We came up short yet again against the world champs. Twice now.”
The Raiders were able to stay close thanks to some issues that have hurt the Chiefs all season. The Chiefs’ offensive tackles struggled to give Mahomes enough time to throw, their secondary had breakdowns, and they committed too many penalties — including three on one offensive possession.
K’Lavon Chaisson celebrates in the 1st half
Mahomes was under heavy pressure when he threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Justin Watson late in the first half. The pass gave the Chiefs a 10-3 lead and sent Mahomes past Len Dawson with his franchise-record 328th touchdown pass.
O’Connell, who had to play after Gardner Minshew broke his collarbone last weekend, started slow after missing a month with a broken thumb. But as the Chiefs kept kicking field goals, O’Connell started to find his rhythm, throwing two touchdown passes to give the Raiders the lead.
The first touchdown was to Bowers, one of the most productive rookie players in NFL history, with 1:40 left in the third quarter. Then, after the Chiefs went three-and-out, O’Connell connected with Tre Tucker for a 58-yard touchdown to open the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs responded with Wright’s fourth field goal, giving them a 19-17 lead with about 10 minutes left.
A lot happened after that before the final score was decided.
“The win was a positive here. These things are hard to get, especially against this crew,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “They do a nice job against us it seems every time we play them. It comes right down to the end.”
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Jack Jones celebrates with teammates after an interception
The Chiefs clearly remember what happened the last time the Raiders visited Arrowhead Stadium during the holiday season.
It was Christmas Day last year when interim coach Antonio Pierce and quarterback Aidan O’Connell led the Raiders to a surprising 20-14 victory over the defending Super Bowl champions. Their defense contributed two touchdowns, helping secure the upset.
The Chiefs are still reminded of that loss, and it’s giving them added motivation as their longtime AFC West rivals come to town for a rare post-Thanksgiving game. The Chiefs are aiming for a decisive win this time, hoping to avoid another close game and instead secure a blowout to help boost their push for the top spot in the AFC playoffs.
“Wins are hard to come by in this league,” said Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones, who has gone without a sack for seven consecutive games. “I think as a team, we feel like there are still a lot of areas we can improve.”
It helps that the Chiefs (10-1) are starting to get healthier at the right time.
Kansas City Chiefs players celebrate in the 2nd half
Running back Isiah Pacheco, who has been recovering from an ankle injury and surgery after the Week 2 game against Cincinnati, might return this week. Defensive end Charles Omenihu, who has been out since tearing his right ACL in the playoffs, could also rejoin the defense to help with the pass rush, which has struggled to reach the quarterback.
“We’re getting healthier as an offense,” said quarterback Patrick Mahomes. “We’re just getting more reps with guys, and as the season goes on you see what guys are best at. Now it’s about building and continuing to build the rest of the season.”
The Raiders (2-9) are still working on building their team.
O’Connell will return as the starting quarterback after breaking his right thumb on Oct. 20. He replaces Gardner Minshew, who suffered a collarbone injury in last week’s loss to the Broncos.
“It’s challenging for our team right now with losing seven straight games,” said Pierce. “But the opportunities are there. The want-to and desire — one thing about these guys is they love one another. They love the game. They’re passionate about it. I think hopefully it shows up on film, the effort that they play with.
The physicality’s picked up over the last couple of weeks. They have done a good job of buying in. These younger guys understand this is their opportunity, right?”
Just like it was when the Raiders beat the Chiefs last Christmas.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell is expected to start Friday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs, according to NFL Network.
O’Connell, 26, is eligible to return from injured reserve in time for the game. The Raiders (2-9) recently lost quarterback Gardner Minshew to a season-ending broken collarbone during their 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
O’Connell returned to practice on Monday and took first-team reps. He had been sidelined since injuring his thumb in a 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 20.
This season, O’Connell has completed 52 of 82 passes for 455 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions in four games (two starts). Last season, as a rookie, he threw for 2,218 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games (10 starts). O’Connell was drafted by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Aidan O’Connell throws a pass in the 1st half
Desmond Ridder, 25, stepped in for Minshew on Sunday, completing 5 of 10 passes for 64 yards. Ridder has played in three games this season, going 16 of 26 for 138 yards with one touchdown.
Minshew, 28, had completed 25 of 42 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Broncos. This was his first season with the Raiders, where he passed for 2,013 yards, nine touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Minshew had joined the Raiders as a free agent after playing for Jacksonville (2019-2020), Philadelphia (2021-2022), and Indianapolis (2023). He won the starting job in camp but was benched several times in a tough season for the Raiders, who have now lost seven straight games.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew will not play for the rest of the season due to a broken collarbone, coach Antonio Pierce announced on Monday. Minshew got hurt late in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos.
Pierce now has to choose whether Aidan O’Connell or Desmond Ridder will start the game on Friday at Kansas City. The Raiders, who have lost seven straight games and are now 2-9, need a boost. Minshew’s role as the starting quarterback was uncertain even before his injury. He threw 10 interceptions and only nine touchdown passes this season and lost four fumbles.
It’s possible the coaching staff would have turned to O’Connell or Ridder even if Minshew hadn’t been hurt. O’Connell has been on injured reserve because of a broken thumb but was allowed to return to practice on Monday. This gives the Raiders three weeks to decide when to activate him, during which time O’Connell will not count against the roster.
With the short week, things are a bit more complicated. Pierce mentioned that there wouldn’t be normal practices, but they would still check if O’Connell is ready to play. He said he would make sure O’Connell can grip the ball without pain.
Gardner Minshew leaves the field after an injury
“Putting a player out there who’s hurting or injured still, that’s not going to benefit the player or our team,” Pierce said.
O’Connell started the second half of last season as a rookie and led the Raiders to a 5-4 record. He lost the starting job to Minshew in preseason but got it back six games into the season before getting injured a week later against the Los Angeles Rams.
The Raiders might also consider Ridder, who replaced Minshew when he was hurt on Sunday. Ridder, signed off Arizona’s practice squad on October 21, started 13 games for Atlanta last season, passing for 2,836 yards and 12 touchdowns with 12 interceptions. In relief of Minshew against the Broncos, Ridder completed 5 of 10 passes for 64 yards and took the Raiders to Denver’s 1-yard line before the game ended.
“He’s a competitor,” Pierce said. “Obviously, he was dealt a difficult hand. He was thrown in the fire with no reps, but he did move the ball downfield.”
The Raiders might also consider signing Daniel Jones, who was recently released by the New York Giants. Pierce called this the “third and fourth” option, but he said the general manager, Tom Telesco, would look into it. Jones, who was the sixth pick in the 2019 NFL draft, went 24-44-1 as a starter for the Giants and was signed to a four-year, $160 million contract in March 2023.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew suffered a potentially serious injury when he was sacked and landed hard on his left shoulder late in the fourth quarter during Sunday’s loss to the Denver Broncos.
Minshew left the game holding his shoulder after being tackled by linebackers Cody Barton and Jonathon Cooper. Multiple reports say that Minshew has a broken collarbone, which will keep him out for the rest of the season.
“We’ll know more, but doesn’t look good,” coach Antonio Pierce said after the Raiders lost 29-19.
With the Raiders (2-9) behind 26-19 and 3:12 left in the game, Minshew dropped back and scrambled to his right. Barton and Cooper tackled him, bringing the 28-year-old quarterback to the ground.
Desmond Ridder replaced Minshew, but he only played two plays before fumbling. Ridder ran for 3 yards on second down but then lost the ball after being sacked by Broncos linebacker Nik Bonitto. Lineman Malcolm Roach recovered the fumble, and the Broncos took over at the Raiders’ 17-yard line.
Minshew completed 25 of 42 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Ridder finished 5 of 10 for 64 yards.
“We obviously got to be able to go out there and execute and finish by the end of the fourth quarter,” Ridder said. “We just got to be better on offense. We just got to be able to execute better. When it comes down to it, we got to be able to make those big plays.”
The Raiders played without their top two running backs, as well as two starters at cornerback, two on the defensive line, and one at safety.
Gardner Minshew throws in the 1st half
Second-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell is eligible to come off injured reserve this week, which could help the Raiders as they prepare to play the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday.
O’Connell injured his thumb in a game against the Los Angeles Rams on October 20.
“We’re gonna need somebody, right?” Pierce said. “We’re running out of quarterbacks, too, now. We’ll see what happens tomorrow. But obviously, it looks like (O’Connell’s) getting better.”
“He threw a little bit in practice this week. Obviously, we got a short week. Play on Friday, travel on Thursday, so we have to make that decision very quickly.”
Ridder said he’ll be ready to start if needed.
“I’ve been here almost a month now, feel comfortable with the offense, ready to go,” Ridder said. “So whatever that situation may be, it’s not up to me, it’s up to the higher power. But I’m ready for any situation there may be.”
Davante Adams’ dissatisfaction with the Las Vegas Raiders’ recent performance was an open secret. While he clarified on Thursday that he wasn’t celebrating the dismissal of head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager David Ziegler earlier in the week, he expressed the need for change in a team currently struggling with a 3-5 record.
“In no way should this be mistaken for a celebration of the new coach and the changes that were made,” Adams told reporters, as reported by The Athletic. “Clearly, I believe it was time for some sort of change, one way or another, to inject some energy and revitalize the team.”
Adams was among the Raiders’ players who voiced their frustrations during a team meeting before Monday’s game in Detroit, which ended in a disheartening prime-time loss and ultimately led to leadership changes. During that game, Jimmy Garoppolo had a challenging performance, missing Adams twice for potential long touchdowns. Following McDaniels’ firing, the Raiders also benched Garoppolo in favor of rookie Aidan O’Connell.
Davante Adams (Credits: Sportsnaut)
Adams himself had an off night, dropping a pass, and he is not having a typical season by his high standards. In eight games, he has 47 catches for 539 yards and three touchdowns. If he maintains this pace for the rest of the season, it would be his worst statistical output since 2019, when he was limited to 12 games with the Packers.
Adams mentioned on Thursday that the current goal is to ease the tension within the Raiders’ facility, and there already seems to be a change in the team’s atmosphere. Several players, including Adams and Ameer Abdullah, were seen casually playing Nerf basketball and joking around during the team’s open-locker period on Thursday. Adams even humorously commented that if word got out about the players having fun, it might be cited as a reason for their struggles.
“I think it’s more of a mindset that we are trying to foster, not to force, but to have moving forward—being as positive as possible,” Adams explained. “I think that’s the mindset we have right now. We want to have fun and enjoy our time on the field. As we talk to each other, it feels like we’ve been working too hard not having enough fun. We need to get back to that.”
Despite any potential disagreements between Adams and McDaniels, the star receiver made sure to express his gratitude to his former coach and Ziegler for their role in bringing him to Vegas. The Raiders acquired Adams in a significant trade with the Packers in March 2022 and promptly signed him to a $141.25 million extension.
“Before I say anything else, I want to express my appreciation to Josh and Dave for bringing me here and going through what they did to make this happen for me,” Adams told reporters. “I’m truly thankful to them because if they hadn’t fought as hard as they did to make this happen, who knows how things would have turned out? It might not have been the fairy tale ending we all hoped for, but at the end of the day, you can’t dwell on ‘what if’ scenarios.”
There had been speculation that Adams might be traded before the trade deadline, but he remained with the Raiders. He also made it clear that despite the challenges he and his team have faced, his desire to stay hasn’t wavered.
“As I’ve said many times, I want to be a Raider,” he affirmed. “So, I’m committed to making this work and doing everything I can to keep it going.”
Las Vegas Raiders to Play Without Injured Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo Against Chicago Bears
Jimmy Garoppolo, the starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, will be sidelined this weekend. CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones has confirmed reports that Garoppolo has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears due to a back injury he sustained last week.
Garoppolo was taken to the hospital after suffering the injury late in the second quarter against the New England Patriots. However, head coach Josh McDaniels mentioned earlier this week that the quarterback had “dodged a big bullet” with the injury. McDaniels did acknowledge that Garoppolo’s status for Week 7 was uncertain but expressed optimism regarding his prognosis.
Las Vegas Raiders
Nonetheless, it now appears that Garoppolo will miss his second start of the season. He previously sat out the team’s Week 4 loss against the division rival Los Angeles Chargers due to a concussion. In that game, rookie Aidan O’Connell filled in for Garoppolo, completing 24 of 39 passes for 238 yards and an interception.
O’Connell has been inactive for the other five games this season, with veteran Brian Hoyer serving as Garoppolo’s backup. Hoyer took over for Garoppolo last week against New England and went 6 of 10 for 102 yards. The team has not yet announced which of the two players will start against the Chicago Bears.
Garoppolo missed a significant portion of the summer and part of training camp due to a foot injury that required surgery earlier in the year. Nevertheless, he started the season as Las Vegas’ unquestioned starter. So far, he has completed 68% of his passes at an average of 7.3 yards per attempt but has thrown seven touchdown passes against a league-high eight interceptions.
Jimmy Garoppolo's Unavailability To Play Against Bears Because Of His Injury
On Sunday, the Bears and the Raiders will face off without their starting quarterbacks, posing a significant challenge for both teams.
The Raiders’ Jimmy Garoppolo will be sidelined due to a back injury sustained during the first half against the Patriots last week. Although the injury isn’t as severe as initially feared, Garoppolo hasn’t practiced, forcing the Raiders to choose between veteran Brian Hoyer and rookie Aidan O’Connell as replacements.
Hoyer, a 15-year veteran, stepped in for Garoppolo during the Patriots game, completing 6 of 10 passes for 102 yards in a crucial 21-17 victory. Interestingly, Hoyer, like the Bears’ prospective starter Tyson Bagent, entered the NFL undrafted.
Hoyer previously played for the Bears in 2016, securing a 98.0 passer rating in five starts, albeit with the team managing just one win out of those games. He also had a lone start for the Patriots last season.
Jimmy Garoppolo Sidelined Against The Bears Due To His Back Injury (Credits: Las Vegas Raiders)
On the other side, the Bears are dealing with their own quarterback issue. Justin Fields is doubtful to play due to a dislocated thumb, rendering him unable to practice. As a result, the Bears are planning to start undrafted rookie Tyson Bagent, adding to the uncertainty of the matchup.
The Raiders have another option in the form of rookie Aidan O’Connell, a fourth-round draft pick out of Purdue who previously played at Stevenson High School.
O’Connell started for the Raiders in Week 4 against the Chargers, completing 24 of 39 passes for 234 yards, although he threw an interception, leading to a passer rating of 68.1. He also showcased his versatility by rushing for a touchdown during that game.
With both teams missing their starting quarterbacks, Sunday’s game promises an interesting battle between veteran experience and rookie talent, adding an element of unpredictability to the outcome.
