NOVEMBER 26: The Raiders do indeed plan to start O’Connell this week, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports. With Minshew sidelined for the remainder of the year, O’Connell will be in place to retain QB1 duties the rest of the way.
NOVEMBER 25: Gardner Minshew failed to finish a Raiders-Broncos game for the second time, with the oft-benched quarterback going down with a broken collarbone yesterday. Antonio Pierce confirmed reports of the break Monday and said Aidan O’Connell is in play to return this week.
The Raiders have since designated O’Connell for return from IR. This marked the second-year quarterback’s first week of return eligibility. The Raiders will now have 21 days to activate the QB to the active roster, but it sounds like O’Connell could return as soon as Black Friday. The signal caller has been rehabbing a broken thumb suffered in late October.
With Minshew failing to impress to begin the campaign, O’Connell eventually took over atop the depth chart. He got his first start in Week 6, completing 27 of his 40 pass attempts for 227 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. However, he was knocked out of his second start after only 14 snaps, and his placement on IR kept him off the field for the past four games.
In four appearances this season, O’Connell completed 63.4 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and two interceptions. This followed a 2023 campaign where the rookie fourth-round pick went 5-5 while throwing 12 touchdowns vs. 11 interceptions. While the Raiders are well outside of the playoff picture, O’Connell will still have a chance to build on his career numbers for the stretch run of the season.
He could also make an argument for the QB1 role ahead of the 2025 campaign. O’Connell remains attached to his rookie contract through 2026, while Minshew was added on a two-year pact in the spring. The Raiders should also be armed with a top pick in next year’s draft, so there’s a chance the team adds another QB to the mix before the start of the 2025 season.
With Minshew being lost for the season, the Raiders will no longer have to make a decision following O’Connell’s activation. Minshew improved on his turnovers over his past four starts, with the veteran tossing five scores vs. two picks over that span. When the QB was knocked out of yesterday’s game, he was replaced by Desmond Ridder, who completed five of 10 passes while also taking a pair of sacks.
Considering the Raiders’ inconsistent play at the position in 2024, they’ve been mentioned as a natural suitor for Daniel Jones. While the team did indeed show some interest in the former Giants starter, the quarterback has “eliminated Las Vegas from consideration,” per Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report. Jones has received interest from “multiple” playoff squads and is interested in joining a contender.
Ben Levine contributed to this post.
Garbage in, garbage out.
O’Connell vs Minshew, the most boring QB Controversy ever. This competition makes Blaine Gabbert vs Chad Henne riveting. Then there’s Desmond Ridder who must have made a play on one of the coaches wives or daughter, since that soup sandwich isn’t even trusted with the sideline tablet.
I never really understood the hype with Ridder. He was a solid college QB but nothing more than that to me. He also had a loaded college offense with Jerome Ford, Alec Pierce, and Tre Tucker.
That said, O’Connell was not impressive either, and Ridder should be able to beat him out.
lol just sign Danny dimes
He doesn’t want to play there. He made it clear that his priority is backup on a contender. He’s not going from one dumpster fire with a bad OL to another one.
The feeling is mutual. Raiders already have enough incompetence at QB.
@sorry- Clearly the feeling is not mutual since Vegas reportedly was interested in signing him.
Once again… The Raiders as an organization will neither confirm nor deny any rumors. This has been a standing rule of operation since Big Al took over. Just ask reporter Tim Kawakami who tried to hold a Raiders Senior Exec John Herrera to a solid answer about HC Lane Kiffin.
Basically, any agent that is trying to get his player in the news can say that the Raiders are interested. The Raiders as an organization will not confirm or deny the rumor, so it’s free press.
Or he can swallow pride and audition to be a bridge or starter for another team next year. You have to pick your battles
He doesn’t need to audition for that. He’s a known commodity: a former starter with some success who fizzled out. There will undoubtedly be interest in him for such a role for that reason alone. Maybe he’ll have to compete for it, but that’s usually the case anyway.
He does have to audition to raise his stock. That’s my point
How on earth would he “raise his stock” by playing for the awful Raiders? It’s the same situation as the Giants. He needs to spend time as a backup on a contending team. He needs to be surrounded by talent in order to look good. Makes no sense to go to the Raiders. Think about what Mitchell Trubisky did when he went to Buffalo. Raised his stock and duped a few teams into thinking he was worth it. Jones needs to do the same.
Depends on what Daniel’s agent tells him and what leverage he has. Anyone can say what they want but Daniel has nfl experience 6 years worth and played in multiple offenses under several head coaches and OCs
If he signs with raiders maybe wins a few games and shows leadership he has a job next year that he probably wouldn’t have if he sits out until March nfl season begins what’s so hard to understand?
He needs to be surrounded by talent in order to look good.
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I would assume that GMs will take that into consideration. Doing something good with the Raiders should count for a lot more than doing something good for a playoff team.
I doubt a couple good games would convince a team to give him a larger contract. He’s going to get what he’s going to get.
lol I never said larger contract.
At this point, it may be better for him to sit out the rest of 2024 and sign a one-year deal with a contender in the offseason. That would allow him time to absorb a playbook rather than be unprepared and put himself in the best possible situation to earn a better contract in 2026.
So Jones is limiting his free agency options just like he limits his reads on receivers. Makes sense.
Now he just needs to way overshoot or undershoot his actual value and fumble the transaction and we have a great mirror of his Giants career.
While the team did indeed show some interest in the former Giants starter, the quarterback has “eliminated Las Vegas from consideration”.
“A refusal is not the act of a friend” – Don Barzini
This sounds stupid to me. He needs a starting gig to demonstrate that his issues with the Giants was a lack of talent on the Giants part. A good 6-game stretch with the Raiders might land him a starting job. If he holds out to be a backup on a playoff team, there is no way anyone will consider him a 2025 starter.
It reminds me of Kim Ng refusing the RS GM interview. There aren’t a ton of opportunities out there.
Why do I feel like the Niners could turn DJ into a competent QB?
Because they had such great success with Trey Lance?
Big difference between a guy who never had any success and a guy who has had some.