After the Las Vegas Raiders ruled out starting quarterback Jimmy Garroppolo with a concussion on Friday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that rookie Aidan O’Connell will get his first NFL start vs. the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
Journeyman Brian Hoyer will serve as backup to the fourth-round pick from Purdue, who amassed 9,219 yards and 65 touchdowns to 30 interceptions as a Boilermaker. In three preseason games this year O’Connell showed promise with 482 passing yards to go with three touchdowns and no picks. He also reportedly got “the majority,” of first-team snaps at practice this week.
“I think the preseason was valuable for me at the time, just to get out there and play and get it under my belt,” he told ESPN on Friday. “But I think at this point it’s pretty far gone and it’s different teams and different schemes and different game plans for us. So I’m happy it happened, but it’s time to move on.”
The Chargers have a favorable defense for a rookie making his debut, allowing an NFL-worst 337 passing yards per game, and injuries to stars Joey Bosa (hamstring/toe, questionable) and Derwin James (hamstring, doubtful.)
O’Connell will also benefit from having one of the league’s top wide receivers in Davante Adams and a bell-cow running back in Josh Jacobs to lean on in Sunday’s clash of 1-2 AFC West teams.
On Sept. 27, Adams talked to the media about O’Connell, sharing what he’s seen from his newest QB1.
“I think he’s opened up a lot of eyes since he’s been here,” he said per 8 News Now’s Logan Reever.
While the success of 2022’s Mr. Irrelevant Brock Purdy might unfairly increase the expectations for O’Connell to produce right away, fans need to keep in mind Las Vegas has yet to surpass 18 points with Garroppolo under center this season.
Even going up against what has the most forgiving pass defense in 2023, the offense may still look ugly when the Raiders and Chargers kick off at 4:05 p.m. EST from SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.
