Aidan O'Connell Gets Through Another Full Practice
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) was a full participant during Thursday's practice session. O'Connell has now made it through back-to-back full practice sessions without a setback, which is great news ahead of the Week 16 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Another full session on Friday should get O'Connell cleared to play for this weekend. He sat out of last week's loss to the Atlanta Falcons after suffering a bone bruise in his knee in Week 14. The return of O'Connell should boost the fantasy value of both Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers. O'Connell would be a lower end QB2 if he is able to return this weekend.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) is practicing on Wednesday leading up to the Week 16 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. This marks the first time he has practiced since he suffered a knee injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14. Head coach Antonio Pierce said O'Connell is trending toward being available for Sunday, so for now, he can be assumed as "probable" for Week 16. The 26-year-old has thrown for 899 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in six games this year. Although he's heading into a matchup with the most fantasy-friendly defense for quarterbacks, he's not a recommended starting option in single-QB formats. If he can't play, Desmond Ridder is in line for another start.
Aidan O'Connell Trending Toward Playing In Week 16
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) missed the Monday Night Football contest against the Atlanta Falcons with a knee injury, but head coach Antonio Pierce said the second-year pro is "trending upward to playing" against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16. The 26-year-old has completed 86 of his 136 passing attempts for 899 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions in six games this season. However, he will draw a juicy matchup against the No. 1 fantasy-friendly defense for QBs if he can suit up on Sunday. That said, with no teams on a bye, fantasy managers can likely find better options in single-QB leagues. He could have a quality spike week for two-QB and Superflex fantasy managers who are depending on him.
Desmond Ridder Starting On Monday Night, Aidan O'Connell Ruled Out
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder will start in a revenge game against his former team, the Atlanta Falcons, on Monday Night Football. Meanwhile, Aidan O'Connell (knee), who was listed as questionable with a bone bruise in his left knee, is officially inactive and will serve as the emergency third QB. O'Connell was initially feared to have suffered a season-ending knee injury when he was hurt in the Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but it ended up being a bone bruise. If he recovers this week, O'Connell could be an option for the Raiders in Week 16 versus the Jacksonville Jaguars, but it might also depend on how Ridder fares against Atlanta. The 25-year-old will be making his first start of the year after going 12-for-18 for 101 yards in relief of O'Connell in Week 14. With limited offensive weapons around him, we're expecting Ridder to struggle to move the ball consistently on Monday.
Aidan O'Connell Questionable Against Atlanta In Week 15
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) is questionable to play against the Atlanta Falcons for Monday Night Football in Week 15. O'Connell did not participate in practice Thursday, Friday, or Saturday and has an official questionable tag heading into Monday night's contest. He has 899 yards passing and four passing touchdowns with three interceptions this season. Desmond Ridder is listed as the backup quarterback for the Raiders should O'Connell be sidelined on Monday. Ridder has 239 passing yards and a passing touchdown for Las Vegas this season.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) will not suit up for practice on Friday. This is now back-to-back missed practices for O'Connell as he heads into Monday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. The hope is that O'Connell will be able to play as long as he can get in a limited practice session on Saturday. If he sits, Desmond Ridder would be tasked with making his first start of the season. O'Connell suffered a bone bruise last week, so it's uncertain if he'll even be 100 percent healthy by Monday. Fantasy managers who planned on using O'Connell might want to start looking for a backup plan.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) was unable to get on the practice field on Thursday. Despite his absence in practice, O'Connell is hopeful to suit up for the Monday night matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. Last week, O'Connell suffered a bone bruise in his left knee during the loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The organization feared O'Connell would miss the rest of the season, but now he has a chance to play in Week 15. If he sits, Desmond Ridder would be tasked with making his first start of the season. The fact that O'Connell sat out on Thursday isn't a great sign heading into Monday's game, but there is still plenty of time for him to still get cleared to play.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) took part in the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday and is still holding out hope that he can play in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. O'Connell suffered a knee injury in the Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the Raiders initially feared it could end his season, but O'Connell was diagnosed with just a bone bruise. "Yeah, I'm hoping to get there," O'Connell said. "Obviously, we've got a longer week this week, which helps, and so just really taking it day by day. Obviously, not something I've been through with this particular injury. So, trying to get there." While the 26-year-old won't miss the rest of the season now, he's not a lock to play on Monday night. A decision on his status for Monday night probably won't be made until this weekend. If he can't go, Desmond Ridder will make his first start of 2024.
Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said that quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) will take part in the team's walkthrough practice on Wednesday. As far as O'Connell's availability for the Monday night game in Week 15 against the Atlanta Falcons, Pierce said it will depend on how O'Connell looks this week. The Raiders won't hold their first official practice until Thursday this week, but it's a good sign that O'Connell will be on the field on Wednesday after the Raiders initially feared he suffered a season-ending left-knee injury in the Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's officially dealing with a bone bruise. If O'Connell plays on Monday night, he'll be a low-end QB2 with upside in superflex leagues against a Falcons defense that was torched by the Vikings in Week 14. If O'Connell is ruled out, Desmond Ridder would make his first start in 2024.
Aidan O'Connell Has Bone Bruise, Not Ruled Out For Week 15
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell (knee) is dealing with a bone bruise in his left knee, an MRI exam confirmed on Monday morning, according to sources. The Raiders were initially fearing a season-ending knee injury for O'Connell after he was hurt late in the third quarter of Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. However, with promising MRI results, O'Connell isn't yet being ruled out of next Monday night's game versus the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15. If O'Connell can't go, Desmond Ridder would get the nod in primetime against his former team. The 26-year-old O'Connell had an air cast on his leg and was carted off on Sunday, but it appears his season won't come to an end. It remains to be seen when O'Connell might play again, but he should remain Vegas' starter the rest of the way if he's able to return before the Week 18 regular-season finale.
Aidan O'Connell
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Raiders
