Title: Rookie Aidan O’Connell to Make First NFL Start for Raiders Following Garoppolo’s Concussion
Date: October 1, 2023
In a surprising turn of events, the Las Vegas Raiders have decided to start rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell in Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Chargers, as veteran Jimmy Garoppolo has been ruled out due to a concussion. ESPN sources confirmed the news, revealing that Garoppolo did not make the trip to Los Angeles.
O’Connell, a fourth-round draft choice, was chosen over veteran Brian Hoyer, who has not won a start since October 2016. Both quarterbacks received reps during practice last week while Garoppolo was going through the concussion protocol. However, O’Connell impressed the coaching staff and ultimately received the majority, if not all, of the reps by the end of the week.
Sunday’s game at SoFi Stadium will mark O’Connell’s first NFL start, where he will make his debut and attempt his first professional passes. The rookie quarterback will face the Chargers’ defense, which has struggled in the early part of the season, allowing an average of over 450 yards per game through their first three games.
During the preseason, O’Connell showcased his talent and potential, drawing comparisons from NFL scouts and executives to last season’s late-round pick turned starter, Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers. In August, O’Connell completed an impressive 43-of-62 passes (69.4%) for 482 yards and three touchdowns without throwing an interception.
However, despite his preseason success, O’Connell was listed as the third-string quarterback behind Garoppolo and Hoyer at the start of the regular season. Many Raiders fans questioned why the promising rookie was not given the backup quarterback role.
Furthermore, O’Connell’s college career at Purdue was also remarkable, as he amassed 9,219 passing yards and threw 65 touchdowns. The young quarterback has expressed his excitement about getting the opportunity to start in the NFL, stating that the preseason experience was valuable but acknowledging the need to focus on the present.
The Raiders signed Garoppolo to a lucrative three-year, $72.75 million contract during the offseason, hoping he could replace their longtime starter, Derek Carr. However, Garoppolo’s injury history continues to haunt him, as his concussion marks at least 16 regular-season and playoff games missed since 2020.
As the Raiders embark on this divisional showdown against the Chargers, they will rely on the untested but promising rookie, Aidan O’Connell, to lead their offense and prove his worth on the NFL stage.