The quarterback place has been a problem all season lengthy for the Las Vegas Raiders, they usually have been dealt one other blow as Aidan O’Connell went down throughout the crew’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fortunately, the damage isn’t as critical as initially believed, but it surely may nonetheless put O’Connell down for a few weeks.
Sadly, it has been that sort of season for O’Connell, who suffered a fractured thumb that put him out for a month earlier this season. His second yr with the crew has simply been cursed, however many nonetheless consider he might be one thing for this crew, and a kind of individuals is former Raiders star Wealthy Gannon.
Gannon spoke on O’Connell, saying that the Raiders’ QB has been ‘snake-bitten’ this season however nonetheless feels he has an opportunity to become an excellent participant, by way of Michael Canelo of Sports activities Illustrated:
“You hate to see that,” Gannon stated. “The man [Aidan O’Connell] has been snake-bitten this yr. You take a look at the thumb damage earlier within the season that stored him out a number of weeks, now he comes again. He did some good issues final week within the recreation towards the Chiefs and also you thought actually this was a possibility for him to sort of end out the season and actually present individuals what he’s able to doing.”
“I simply really feel for this child. This child has been by way of rather a lot. Went 5-5 final yr as a rookie with a variety of change round him. And I don’t assume the ultimate chapter has been written about Aidan O’Connell. I feel the child can play. There isn’t any query in my thoughts. Whether or not or not he’s going to be the franchise quarterback subsequent yr. Whether or not or not the Raiders going to get a quarterback, which I’m positive they may. I feel this child has an opportunity to develop. It’s simply unlucky that he has had so many setbacks right here in his second season.”
Any time O’Connell has been given the prospect, he has proven the potential to be a serviceable quarterback. His efficiency towards an excellent Kansas Metropolis Chiefs protection in Week 13 was proof of that, however as Gannon famous, this yr simply hasn’t gone his method.
Now, the Raiders will seemingly be in prime place to draft a high quarterback prospect in subsequent yr’s draft, however no matter who the crew brings in, Gannon believes O’Connell needs to be given the prospect to compete for the beginning job:
“Nicely, I feel the quarterback room goes to look rather a lot totally different subsequent yr. And my sense is that after they set out the chairs, he’s going to have one. If it was me, I might undoubtedly have him on the roster subsequent yr. I feel he might be an ideal backup quarterback. And let him compete for the beginning job. You might be most likely bought to draft a quarterback. Allow them to compete. Allow them to determine how this factor goes to work out.”
At worst, retaining O’Connell round would give the Raiders a superb backup QB they know they’ll flip to if one thing goes incorrect. However there does appear to be one thing there with O’Connell, and he has earned the prospect to compete for the Raiders’ beginning job.
Raiders’ QB Aidan O’Connell suffered bone bruise in knee
When Aidan O’Connell was carted off the sphere with an air forged round his leg, it appeared sure that his season was over and he had suffered a extreme damage. However that turned out to not be the case, and he could not even miss a recreation.
MRIs revealed that O’Connell suffered a bone bruise in his left knee and can attempt to play within the crew’s Monday night time recreation towards the Atlanta Falcons. If he’s unable to go, Desmond Ridder would be the Raiders’ beginning quarterback.
