Adam SchefterESPN Senior Writer1. Oct 2023 05:02 ET2 minutes read
With Jimmy Garoppolo out due to a concussion and unable to make the trip to Los Angeles, the Raiders have decided to use rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell against the Chargers on Sunday, league sources told ESPN.
The Raiders are choosing O’Connell, a fourth-round draft choice, over veteran Brian Hoyer, who last won a start in October 2016. The two quarterbacks both received reps in practice last week while Garoppolo was in the concussion protocol. However, according to sources, O’Connell completed the majority – if not all – of the reps in practice by the end of the week.
O’Connell will make his first NFL start and make the first passes of his professional career in an AFC West divisional showdown at SoFi Stadium against a Chargers defense that is averaging over 450 yards per game in its first three games entering Sunday quits this season.
O’Connell was a standout in the preseason this summer, drawing comparisons from some NFL scouts and executives to Brock Purdy, another late-round pick who got a chance to start for the San Francisco 49ers last season.
In three preseason games in August, O’Connell completed 43 of 62 passes (69.4%) for 482 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He left some Raiders fans wondering why he wasn’t the backup quarterback to start the season while Las Vegas listed Hoyer as the No. 2 quarterback.
O’Connell also shined during his college career at Purdue, where he rushed for 9,219 yards and 65 touchdowns.
“I think the preseason was valuable for me back then, just going out there, playing and doing my best,” O’Connell told ESPN on Friday. “But I think at this point it’s pretty advanced and we have different teams, different schemes and different game plans for us. So I’m glad it happened, but it’s time to move on, I think, and see what happens.”
The Raiders signed Garoppolo as a free agent this offseason to a three-year, $72.75 million contract to replace nine-year starter Derek Carr, although Garoppolo required surgery on his left foot after agreeing to terms with Las Vegas.
Garoppolo, who suffered a concussion in last Sunday night’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, has missed at least 16 regular season and playoff games due to injury since 2020.