Aidan O’Connell, a rookie quarterback, will start for the Raiders on Sunday against the Chargers because Jimmy Garoppolo has been declared out with a concussion and won’t be traveling to Los Angeles, league sources informed ESPN.
O’Connell, a fourth-round draft pick, is chosen by the Raiders over seasoned quarterback Brian Hoyer, who last won a start in October 2016. They both received reps while Garoppolo was in the concussion protocol at practice last week, but according to sources, O’Connell ended up with the majority, if not all, of the reps.
In an AFC West showdown at SoFi Stadium facing a Chargers defense that entered Sunday giving up an average of more than 450 yards per game, O’Connell will make his first NFL start and try his first passes in the league.
O’Connell was a preseason standout this summer, garnering comparisons to Brock Purdy, another late-round pick who had the chance to start last season for the San Francisco 49ers, from several NFL scouts and executives.
O’Connell completed 43 of 62 throws (69.4%) for 482 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions in three preseason games. Some Raiders supporters were left perplexed as to why Hoyer, who was listed as the No. 2 quarterback by Las Vegas, wasn’t the backup quarterback to start the season.
O’Connell excelled at Purdue as well, throwing for 9,219 yards and 65 touchdowns.
O’Connell told ESPN on Friday, “I believe the preseason was essential for me at the time, simply to get out there and play and have it under my belt. But I feel like it’s very far along at this time, and it’s other teams, different strategies, and different game plans for us. Therefore, even though I’m glad it did, I believe it’s time to move on and see what occurs.
Even though Garoppolo required surgery on his left foot after agreeing to terms with Las Vegas, the Raiders signed him to a three-year, $72.75 million contract this offseason in place of nine-year starter Derek Carr.
Garoppolo missed at least 16 regular-season and postseason games due to injury since 2020 when he sustained a concussion in the loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.