O’Connell or Ridder? Raiders undecided on this week’s starting QB
The Raiders have not decided on a starting quarterback for their game against the Chiefs on Friday.
Quarterback Gardner Minshew suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 29-19 loss to the Broncos. Backup Desmond Ridder replaced Minshew and is the only other healthy quarterback on the Raiders’ 53-man roster.
The team’s other option is Aidan O’Connell, who has been on injured reserve since fracturing his right thumb in a loss to the Rams on Oct. 20.
O’Connell was designated to return to practice Monday. Coach Antonio Pierce said he will talk to the Raiders’ medical staff and evaluate O’Connell the next few days to decide whether the 26-year-old is healthy enough to play Friday.
“Obviously, at the quarterback position, you have to be smart,” Pierce said. “With Aidan, his future is much more brighter, looking ahead. We just have to be smart.”
The Raiders will need to see how O’Connell looks after missing so much time and how his hand feels. He has to prove he can grip the football and throw it properly.
“To put a player out there that’s hurting or injured still, that’s not to the benefit of the player or our team,” Pierce said.
Complicating matters is the fact the Raiders (2-9) are on a short week.
The team may only have walkthroughs Tuesday and Wednesday to prepare for Friday’s game rather than full practices.
What about Ridder?
The Raiders’ limited prep time could give Ridder a leg up.
He’s made three appearances for the team since being signed off the Cardinals’ practice squad Oct. 22, completing 16 of 26 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown.
Ridder said Sunday he is confident he can perform if called upon.
“Yeah, I feel I’m ready to play,” Ridder said. “I’ve been here almost a month now. I feel comfortable with the offense.”
Pierce was impressed with Ridder’s short stint Sunday.
He especially liked the 25-year-old’s response after being sacked and fumbling the football his second snap of the game.
“Obviously, he was dealt a difficult hand. He was thrown into the fire with no reps,” Pierce said.
Ridder misfired on his first two throws his second drive, which began with 1:56 remaining and the Raiders trailing by 10. He then settled in. He completed five of his next seven passes to drive the Raiders to the Broncos’ 1-yard line.
Ridder, on second-and-goal from the 1, was sacked for an 8-yard loss to end the game.
“Even though it didn’t go our way at the end, the ball is at the 1-yard line, right?” Pierce said. “Gave us a chance to maybe score, go to an onside kick, and you never know what happens in this league.”
Staying positive
Ridder getting sacked sent the Raiders to their seventh straight loss.
The playoffs are all but out of the question at this point, but Pierce believes the team still has plenty of reasons to finish strong.
“The last six weeks of the season, you don’t know how this bad boy is going to go in the offseason, right? So, here’s some great opportunities for you to put good film on yourself going forward, right?” Pierce said. “What do the 2025 Raiders look like? And are you a part of that, right? And there’s going to be changes made, as it is every year in the offseason for every team. And I think it’s important for these guys to put their best foot forward, and really for all our players, myself included and staff, to show that we’re fighting.”
Pierce said no one in the Raiders’ building is thinking about what the team’s losing streak is doing for its draft position.
“There’s no give and no tanking, none of that BS that’s being said,” Pierce said. “Hell, we’re trying to win every game possible. If we can win six in a row, we’ll win six in a row. And that’s what we’re going to do.”
Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X