Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell is expected to be under center to start Friday’s game against the host Kansas City Chiefs, NFL Network reported.
O’Connell is eligible to return from injured reserve in time for the game for the Raiders (2-9), who saw fellow quarterback Gardner Minshew sustain a season-ending broken collarbone during the team’s 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
O’Connell, 26, returned to practice on Monday and received first-team reps.
He has been sidelined since injuring his thumb in Las Vegas’ 20-15 setback to the Los Angels Rams on Oct. 20.
O’Connell has completed 52 of 82 passes for 455 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in four games (two starts) this season.
He threw for 2,218 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games (10 starts) as a rookie last season. He was selected by Las Vegas in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Desmond Ridder, 25, replaced Minshew on Sunday and completed 5 of 10 passes for 64 yards. Ridder has appeared in three games this season for Las Vegas and is 16 of 26 for 138 yards with one TD.
Minshew, 28, completed 25 of 42 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Broncos. He finished his first season with the Raiders with 2,013 yards, nine TDs and 10 picks on 66.3 percent passing.
Minshew joined the Raiders in free agency after stints in Jacksonville (2019-20), Philadelphia (2021-22) and Indianapolis (2023) and won the starting job in camp. He was benched multiple times for O’Connell during a tough season for the Raiders, losers of seven straight games.