Gardner Minshew is back at quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Starting Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell left Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams with a thumb injury after Las Vegas’ second possession. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that O’Connell is feared to have broken the thumb on his throwing hand. He’ll undergo further evaluation on Monday to confirm the injury.
Rams safety Kamren Curl made contact with O’Connell’s right hand as O’Connell followed through on a pass on third-and-21.
The play did not produce a first down. O’Connell appeared to be in pain as he and the Raiders offense left the field. Trainers looked at O’Connell’s hand on the sideline before O’Connell left the field for the locker room. Minshew replaced O’Connell at quarterback on the ensuing Las Vegas possession.
The Raiders later announced that O’Connell was doubtful to return with a thumb injury. The game was in a scoreless tie when O’Connell left the game.
A second-year veteran, O’Connell took over as the Raiders starting quarterback last week in a 32-13 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers. It was O’Connell’s first start since he started 10 games as a rookie in 2023.
Minshew signed with the Raiders in the offseason and won the starting job in the preseason. But head coach Antonio Pierce benched him in a Week 5 loss to the Denver Broncos and named O’Connell as the starter ahead of last week’s game against the Steelers.
The Raiders entered Sunday’s game in last place in the AFC West at 2-4.
