Raiders’ QB ready to return against Chiefs: ‘He’s dialed in’

It didn’t take Aidan O’Connell long to prove to the Raiders he was ready to reclaim his role as the team’s starting quarterback.

One walkthrough practice and a handful of well-thrown footballs were enough for O’Connell to show his fractured right thumb had properly healed.

That means the 2023 fourth-round pick will be under center Friday in the Raiders’ game against the Chiefs in Kansas City. O’Connell will replace Gardner Minshew, who suffered a season-ending collarbone injury in Sunday’s loss to the Broncos.

O’Connell was given the starting job over Desmond Ridder, who was signed off the Cardinals’ practice squad two days after O’Connell fractured his thumb in a loss to the Rams on Oct. 20.

“Aidan’s looking good,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said. “Feel good about Aidan. He’s dialed in.”

O’Connell, 26, was cleared to return to practice Monday.

He would have been a lock to regain the starting role under normal circumstances. But the quick turnaround before Friday’s game complicated the situation.

The Raiders didn’t know how O’Connell’s thumb would respond this week. He admitted Tuesday it wasn’t 100 percent. He still believed it felt good enough for him to play.

“We’re progressing how we want to,” said O’Connell, who has been able to do some light throwing the last couple of weeks.

O’Connell couldn’t do much physically during his time on injured reserve, but he tried to make up for that with mental work. Pierce said O’Connell was at all the Raiders’ meetings the past four weeks and has been engaged.

“He’s the one speaking up,” Pierce said. “Talking.”

Acting like a leader

Minshew was named the Raiders’ starter over O’Connell during the preseason.

The 28-year-old struggled to take care of the ball in his first five games, however. That led to O’Connell taking over in the Raiders’ Week 6 loss to the Steelers.

Pierce was impressed with how O’Connell handled losing the starting job in camp and his injury setback against the Rams in Week 7. He didn’t sulk either time.

“He carried himself like the starter, even when he was on (injured reserve),” Pierce said. “He did that when he was a backup. He did a great job of just being engaged with the players, being engaged on the sideline.”

That let Pierce know O’Connell was not giving up on himself or the Raiders’ season.

“You could look at his eyes and demeanor and he wasn’t a guy that was like, ‘Alright, I’m out for the season, I’m not going to play,’” Pierce said.

Running game could help

The Raiders, for various reasons, have attempted 96 passes their last two games.

They don’t want that trend to continue in O’Connell’s first game back.

The Raiders need their nonexistent running game to come through in order for that to happen. They’re averaging an NFL-worst 74.6 rushing yards per game this season.

The team at least had a glimmer of hope against the Broncos. The Raiders averaged 4.3 yards per carry in the loss. Practice-squad callup Sincere McCormick led the way with 33 yards on five attempts. McCormick likely earned more carries in the process, to make sure O’Connell doesn’t need to constantly air it out Friday.

McCormick has been with the Raiders since 2022 but has spent his time in the organization on injured reserve or the practice squad. His five carries Sunday were the first of his career. The team still wasn’t surprised he produced when called upon.

“I’ll be honest, we see it every day in practice,” Pierce said. “He’s bouncing off guys and just the energy that he brought to our offense, he’s really like that. I’ve seen that in practice.”

McCormick said he appreciated the opportunity Sunday. He’s also excited for whatever chances he gets moving forward.

“It’s been an up-and-down roller coaster,” McCormick said. “It’s been a journey that’s a story to tell for my kids’ kids. And I’m excited to continue this journey.”

Contact Vincent Bonsignore at vbonsignore@reviewjournal.com. Follow @VinnyBonsignore on X