Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Workers Author
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell is predicted to overlook 4 to 6 weeks with a damaged thumb on his proper (throwing) hand, sources advised ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
O’Connell, who was carrying a closely wrapped splint on the thumb after Sunday’s 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, will endure extra exams Monday.
The quarterback stated Sunday he suffered a similar-feeling harm in center college.
It was throughout the Raiders’ second offensive collection of the day when, on second-and-10, O’Connell tried a deep move to the best aspect and was hit on his follow-through by Rams security Kamren Curl. With no receiver within the neighborhood, O’Connell was flagged for intentional grounding.
One play later, on third-and-21, O’Connell hit receiver DJ Turner for a 10-yard pickup. It could be O’Connell’s final play of the sport.
“I threw it, and it did not really feel nice,” he stated. “I attempted to robust it out however, yeah, it doesn’t really feel nice.”
O’Connell, who changed Gardner Minshew because the starter final week, accomplished 6 of 10 passes for 52 yards in opposition to the Rams. Per ESPN Analysis, he was pressured on 5 of his 10 dropbacks (50%) and was 2-of-5 for 19 yards when pressured.
“Tremendous unlucky,” O’Connell stated of the timing of the harm. “I used to be actually trying ahead to right now and this chance, and so for it to be minimize quick like that was undoubtedly arduous.”
Minshew, who was benched in favor of O’Connell final week, changed O’Connell. Signed to a two-year free agent contract with $15 million assured, Minshew gained a decent coaching camp battle with O’Connell. He accomplished a career-high 70.7% of his passes for 1,014 yards and 4 touchdowns in 5 begins however was additionally picked off 5 occasions in these video games.
In his final recreation earlier than getting benched, Minshew threw a 100-yard pick-six in opposition to the Denver Broncos in Week 5, turning a possible 17-3 Raiders lead right into a 10-10 recreation in an eventual 34-18 loss. Minshew had a career-low 40.2 QBR on the time of his benching.
In opposition to the Rams on Sunday, Minshew was answerable for 4 turnovers — three interceptions and a fumble that was recovered by Curl and returned 33 yards for a landing — and was 15-of-34 for 154 yards and a career-low single-game passer score of 21.0.
Minshew has thrown eight interceptions this season and fumbled 3 times, shedding two of them. His 10 turnovers are tied for the NFL lead with Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis.
“I’ve by no means turned a ball over like this in my life,” Minshew stated. “It is rather irritating. So, simply acquired to maintain it, maintain learning, maintain coaching, [have] good habits and we’ll discover our method out of this.
“Just a little little bit of it is being aggressive with the ball. A number of of them have been simply unhealthy ball placement, just like the one to DJ [Turner] right now, simply missed behind him. So, a mix of issues, so acquired to have a look at it, deal with it and transfer on.”
The one different quarterback beneath contract with the Raiders is undrafted rookie Carter Bradley, who’s on the apply squad and has but to make his NFL debut. The Raiders additionally had veteran Nathan Peterman on their coaching camp roster for 2 weeks, however he’s now on the Atlanta Falcons’ apply squad.
