In a surprising turn of events, the Las Vegas Raiders have made the decision to start rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, as Jimmy Garoppolo has been ruled out due to a concussion.
A surprise: The #Raiders are expected to start rookie QB Aidan O’Connell against the #Chargers, sources say. With Jimmy Garoppolo out with a concussion, the assumption is that veteran backup Brian Hoyer would start. Instead, it’s the promising rookie. pic.twitter.com/Snh8JNWSYl
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 1, 2023
With Jimmy Garoppolo unable to play, the Raiders had to choose a replacement quarterback for their upcoming clash against the Chargers.
They had two options: Rookie Aidan O’Connell and Veteran Brian Hoyer.
To the surprise of many, the Raiders opted to give the nod to O’Connell, a fourth-round draft selection, over the experienced Hoyer.
Despite Hoyer receiving practice reps, it was O’Connell who ultimately earned the majority of the reps by the end of the week.
O’Connell’s first NFL start will take place in an AFC West showdown at SoFi Stadium against the Chargers.
With both teams vying for divisional dominance, this game carries significant importance for the Raiders. The Chargers’ defense has had a tough time this season, surrendering an average of over 450 yards per game.
During the preseason, Connell had an impressive performance that drew comparisons to another late-round pick, Brock Purdy, who had the chance to start for the San Francisco 49ers last season.
O’Connell’s completion rate in the preseason stood at an impressive 69.4%, having completed 43 of 62 passes for 482 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception.
Jimmy Garoppolo’s stint with the Raiders has been marred by injuries since 2020. In his time with the team, Garoppolo has missed numerous regular-season and playoff games due to various injuries.
This latest concussion adds to the unfortunate trend, posing challenges for both Garoppolo and the Raiders as they navigate their quarterback situation.
However, with Aidan O’Connell stepping up as the starter, the team has the opportunity to assess their depth and potentially uncover a hidden gem in the rookie.
