The Las Vegas Raiders were dealt a significant blow in their pre-season finale on Saturday night, falling 20–10 to the Arizona Cardinals and losing backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell to a fractured right wrist.
Head coach Pete Carroll confirmed after the game that O’Connell will require surgery and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
The injury occurred after the Raiders’ 10-play, 32-yard drive in the second quarter, capped by a 52-yard Daniel Carlson field goal. Trainers examined O’Connell on the sideline before he headed to the locker room. He later returned wearing a splint on his throwing hand. Rookie Cam Miller, a sixth-round pick, took over under center and finished 12-of-24 for 124 yards with a 61.5 passer rating.
Carroll acknowledged the setback: “Aidan’s going to be out a while. We’ve got to see what we can do and keep developing Cam.”
Now entering his third NFL season, O’Connell has thrown for 3,830 yards with 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions across 20 career games (17 starts).
He also missed time last year with a broken thumb. His preseason under Carroll has been rocky, with four turnovers in three games, including a strip-sack in the first quarter against Arizona that set up a Cardinals touchdown.
Carroll noted that tempo has been an issue with O’Connell: “We don’t play as quick from huddle to snap. Still trying to work that out.”
With O’Connell likely headed to injured reserve, the Raiders’ quarterback room is down to starter Geno Smith and Miller, who has primarily worked with the third team this preseason (32-of-61, 305 yards, one touchdown, one interception). When asked if Miller is ready to step up as QB2, Carroll responded, “We’ll see.”
As a result, Las Vegas are expected to explore adding another quarterback before Week 1.
