Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell fractures wrist, with Tom Brady’s team now needing new No 2
The Las Vegas Raiders are set to be forced into the quarterback market after it emerged that Aidan O’Connell faces up to eight weeks out with a fractured wrist.
O’Connell, going into his third year, sustained the injury on Saturday night in his team’s final preseason game, which the Raiders lost 20-10 to the Arizona Cardinals.
‘He’s hurt and it is going to be a while,’ Vegas head coach Pete Carroll said. ‘It’s a huge blow for us.’
O’Connell had been lined up as the No 2 quarterback for Carroll’s first season in Vegas, behind Geno Smith. The team traded for Smith earlier this year from Carroll’s former team, Seattle Seahawks.
Rookie Cam Miller entered in O’Connell’s place Saturday against the Cardinals but the Raiders will want someone with more experience backing Smith up.
Carson Wentz, who played behind Patrick Mahomes at AFC West rivals Kansas City Chiefs last season, is one of the most notable free agent quarterbacks still available.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell (center) has fractured his wrist
The Raiders are now expected to sign a new quarterback to fill the void left by O’Connell
But the Raiders might also want to see how the next couple of days play out.
NFL teams need to cut their rosters down to 53 men by August 26, so there’s a chance that other options soon become available.
The Raiders start the season on September 7 on the road against New England Patriots, followed by their first home game against Los Angeles Chargers.
Despite the O’Connell news, there is an increased sense of optimism around the Raiders ahead of the new campaign after an offseason of overhaul which minority owner Tom Brady has helped to oversee.
As well as appointing Carroll as head coach and trading for quarterback Smith, the Raiders took highly-rated running back Ashton Jeanty with the sixth pick of the NFL Draft.
And back in March, defensive end Maxx Crosby signed a new $106.5million deal to stay in Vegas.
It’s a packed AFC West where the Raiders need to make an impact in 2025, though.
The Chiefs face divisional rivals the Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, to kick Week One off and the Denver Broncos open against Tennessee Titans.
