Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending broken collarbone against the Broncos in Week 12, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo.
Minshew left the game early in the fourth quarter after being sacked by Cody Barton and Jonathon Cooper. Desmond Ridder finished the game at quarterback for the Raiders, completing five of his 10 passing attempts for 64 yards and a 70.4 passer rating.
Las Vegas will now have to decide between Ridder and 2023 fourth-rounder Aidan O’Connell as their starting quarterback next week. O’Connell is still on injured reserve after a broken thumb suffered in October, but he is eligible to return this week. He is likely the team’s preferred choice – the Raiders only signed Ridder after O’Connell’s injury – but his original return timeline was expected to be four to six weeks.
O’Connell’s practice availability will be a major indicator of his potential to play in Week 13, but he will have less time than usual to prepare with the Raiders playing the Chiefs on Friday. If he is designated to return to practice this week, he should be able to start. However, if there are any setbacks – or if O’Connell’s thumb is simply not healed yet – then Ridder will start under center in Kansas City with practice squad quarterback Carter Bradley likely to be elevated for backup duties.
As for Minshew, he will spend the rest of the season on the sidelines, waiting for his collarbone to heal so he can work his way back to full strength. He signed a two-year, $25MM deal with the Raiders this offseason, but won just two of his eight starts with 178 completions on 264 attempts for 1,783 yards with more interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (eight). His $14MM cap hit in 2025 is reasonable for a potential starting quarterback, but Las Vegas may be in search of long-term stability at the position. If O’Connell performs well to close out the year, he may get a shot as a full-time starter next year. If not, the Raiders should be well-positioned to select a top quarterback prospect in the 2025 draft.
Just $3.16MM of Minshew’s 2025 salary is guaranteed, so the Raiders could save $9.34MM in cap space with a post-June 1 cut, according to OverTheCap, leaving dead cap hits of $4.66MM and $3MM in 2025 and 2026, respectively.
Minshew’s injury will naturally stir speculation that the Raiders could sign Daniel Jones, who was officially waived by the Giants on Saturday. Multiple reports listed Las Vegas as a potential destination for Jones even before Minshew went down. Those rumors will likely intensify with Minshew sidelined, though it’s worth noting that Jones would reportedly rather join a team contending for a postseason berth, not a top-10 pick in next April’s draft.
Daniel Jones incoming.
Said same thing lmao
Hell no
I’m not sure I can remember the last time the Raiders entered the season with a coherent, viable plan, and they’ve had several low points, but this feels especially low.
Oooof … Please put the “Peace Pipe” down…
I am sure that you have provided your opinion on Jon Gruden as the Raiders Coach as well as his legal confrontations with the NFL. If you cannot remember actions that occurred in the NFL less than three years ago, I would advise that you stop “smoking the peace pipe”. There was a clear, coherent, viable plan that everyone hated with an apparent victory lap around Arrowhead Stadium.
I can’t even tell what you’re accusing me of here. Multiple times in recent years, the Raiders have acted like they had a chance to contend when it was obvious they didn’t have that kind of roster, with no apparent plan to build that kind of team in reality. They have one winning season in the last eight and no sober person thought they were an AFC contender that one year.
They are better of rolling with Ridder and getting a top 3 pick.
Damnit. There goes our Super Bowl hopes.
Or sign Daniel jones??
Can’t imagine Daniel Jones wants to go to the Raiders. He’ll have plenty of suitors as a backup, likely on a contending team (Dolphins, Ravens, maybe even Bills) or at least a team that is still fighting for a playoff spot. That would give him an outside shot at playing meaningful games.
The Raiders give him more of the same situation he just had. He’s not going to rebuild any value as a FA by stinking it up on another horrible team with bad blocking and limited weapons.
The Raiders would be on the hook for the rest of Jones contract including 23 million injury guarantee and Mark Davis won’t do that so Jones has to clear waivers and then sign with the Raiders but why ?
Granted there isn’t much in the 2025 QB class but Jones might win a few games and screw up the draft and any QB worth taking would be gone…maybe
Besides… Jones said he would prefer a contender…he won’t be a Raider
Jones clears waivers tomorrow. I agree with everything else. Jones to the Raiders doesn’t make any sense for either side.
Thank you god. I’d be happier with literally any other person playing QB.
Ahh to be young, rehabbing, and in Vegas
If O’Connell performs well to close out the year…..
Gonna stop you right there. He won’t. Brace for a top 10 pick
Raiders should just take Sanders and spend money to invest around him
First investment – oline
Sign Cam Robinson as a veteran RT
Raiders should give their 2nd round C a look and if he’s not doing it bring in a veteran like Ryan Kelly
Raiders have a decent LT, LG, RG
Second investment – WR
Bring back Amari Cooper
Take a chance on Stefon Diggs
Draft a wr in 2nd to pair with Brock Bowers
Young QBs are only as successful as the investments you put around them
Last 2 years we’ve seen investment around Stroud Williams and Daniels pay off.