BREAKING: Aidan O’Connell out 4-6 weeks with broken thumb

Gardner Minshew replaced him

UPDATE:

As expected, Aidan O’Connell has a broken thumb and will be placed on injured reserve. That puts O’Connell out for at least four weeks, and his recovery could take up to six weeks. Gardner Minshew, who was recently benched as the Raiders’ starting quarterback, stepped in on Sunday and had four costly turnovers against the Los Angeles Rams.

Minshew is the presumptive starter moving forward, and Las Vegas will likely call up Carter Bradley from the practice squad. Also, don’t rule out the possibility of the team re-signing Nathan Peterman as Peterman was with the club for part of training camp and played for Luke Getsy with the Chicago Bears. Peterman is currently on the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad, so he’d have to be added to the active roster if the Raiders decide to pick him up.

The Raiders’ quarterback drama continues…

PREVIOUSLY:

The flux at the quarterback position continued Sunday as new starter Aidan O’Connell was forced to leave Sunday’s game at the Los Angeles Rams with a thumb injury.

Former starter Gardner Minshew replaced O’Connell late in the first quarter with the score tied at 0-0. The Raiders said he is questionable to return. But coach Antonio Pierce said on the broadcast O’Connell likely won’t return Sunday.

O’Connell seemed to hurt his hand on a pass in which he was penalized for intentional grounding. He went to the locker room after the series ended. When the Raiders took over possession, Minshew went into the game.

O’Connell replaced Minshew in Game 5 at Denver and was named the starting quarterback heading into week 6 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Minshew won a training camp battle against O’Connell, who started 10 games as a rookie last year.

Now, we will see how long Minshew will have to spell O’Connell, a fourth-round draft pick out of Purdue in 2023, because of this injury.

UPDATE:
NFL Media reported that O’Connell is believed to have a broken thumb.