Las Vegas Raiders backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffered a fractured right wrist during the Raiders’ final preseason game on vs. the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, which will see him starting the season on the injured list. O’Connell will require surgery to repair the fracture, and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
O’Connell suffered the injury in the second quarter. He was sacked and lost a fumble during his first drive, but returned to the game on the Raiders’ next possession. He later left the game after his second series after consulting with trainers, returning from the locker room wearing a splint on his right hand while on the sideline. Raiders head coach Pete Carroll told reporters after the game: “He fractured his wrist. He’s hurt and it’s going to be a while. That’s a big blow for us”.
O’Connell was expected to back up starter Geno Smith, with rookie Cam Miller the only other quarterback currently on the roster. He threw for 102 yards on Saturday, completing 12 of 24 passes. Carroll said, via The Athletic: “We just got to see what we can do and keep developing Cam. Fortunately, he got a lot of playing time tonight, and that’ll help him.”
The Raiders selected O’Connell in the fourth round (No. 135 overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, appearing in 20 games for Las Vegas (starting 17). He’s thrown for 3,830 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, completing 63% of his passes.
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