The Raiders will be missing quarterback Aidan O’Connell for their upcoming game against the Chargers this Sunday due to a personal issue he needs to attend to.
O’Connell, a fourth-round pick in the 2023 draft, will not participate in this AFC West matchup set to take place at SoFi Stadium.
In his absence, Kirk Cousins will start, with rookie Fernando Mendoza stepping in as the backup, putting them in position as the leading quarterbacks for their first divisional game of the season.
Throughout his time in Las Vegas, O’Connell has played both starting and backup roles. However, following a significant quarterback overhaul during the offseason, he’s now third on the depth chart. The team brought in Cousins and drafted Mendoza with their first overall pick, which has paired a veteran presence with what they hope will be a long-term solution at quarterback.
Last week, O’Connell was inactive during the season opener where the team won against the Dolphins, meaning he served as an emergency third-string quarterback.
The former Purdue player has participated in 21 games, starting 17 of them. He holds a completion rate of 62%, throwing for 3,932 yards with 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, resulting in an 84.1 passer rating.
His most significant playtime happened in his rookie year when he started 10 games, recording 2,218 yards and 12 touchdowns. The following year, he made seven more starts and threw for 1,612 yards, with eight touchdowns and four interceptions. Last season, though, he only made one appearance on the field.
As he enters the last year of his rookie deal, O’Connell offers valuable experience within a quarterback group that is currently focused on winning with Cousins while grooming Mendoza for future responsibilities.
With his absence on Sunday, the team loses some experience facing the Chargers, yet the situation at the top of the depth chart remains unchanged—Cousins will still lead, and Mendoza will be ready to step in if necessary.
