Aidan O’Connell‘s time as the Raiders’ starting quarterback in 2024 has proven to be short-lived. The broken thumb he suffered on Sunday will lead to an extended absence. 
O’Connell is expected to miss four to six weeks, as first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The second-year passer will seek a second opinion on his diagnosis, he adds. Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo of NFL Network report, meanwhile, that O’Connell is headed to injured reserve.
As a result, the 26-year-old will miss at least the next four games. O’Connell began the year as Vegas’ backup, but veteran free agent addition Gardner Minshew did not live up to expectations. That led to the Raiders’ QB competition re-starting midway through the campaign, with O’Connell taking over in Week 6. He was unable to lead the team to a win in that contest, and he suffered the injury early in Vegas’ loss to the Rams yesterday.
The Raiders now sit at 2-5 on the year, adding further uncertainty to the team’s direction under center moving forward. O’Connell remains attached to his rookie contract through 2026, while Minshew was added on a two-year pact in the spring. The latter’s contract includes guarantees for 2025, but it would still come as no surprise if another pursuit of an upgrade at the position were to take place during the coming offseason. Vegas showed interest in a move up the draft order in April, specifically targeting a reunion between Jayden Daniels and head coach Antonio Pierce. That did not come to pass, as expected, creating the need for the Minshew-O’Connell competition during the summer.
Neither passer was particularly impressive before Minshew’s experience gave him a slight advantage. Despite being replaced, the journeyman will now find himself atop the depth chart for the foreseeable future. Minshew, 28, could stake his claim for the 2025 QB1 gig in Vegas with a strong showing over the coming weeks, although expectations have been lowered for a Raiders offense which no longer features All-Pro wideout Davante Adams. At a minimum, Minshew could increase his value in the eyes of potential offseason suitors.
Undrafted rookie Carter Bradley could be promoted from the practice squad in the wake of today’s news to give Vegas two healthy quarterbacks. If not, the team could be in the market for a temporary addition to serve as Minshew’s backup. As O’Connell turns his attention to recovery, his timeline should allow him to return later in the year.