Source: Raiders QB O’Connell has broken thumb

• Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterOct 20, 2024, 06:01 PM ET

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  Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role – writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA’s Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis’ Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN

INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffered a broken thumb to his right (throwing) hand in the first quarter of Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

O’Connell will undergo more tests Monday to determine how long he will miss, the source said.

Gardner Minshew, who was benched in favor of O’Connell last week, replaced O’Connell.

But with the Raiders having no emergency third quarterback on the roster — receiver Jakobi Meyers was designated as such but is missing his second consecutive game with an ankle injury — O’Connell remained questionable to return, in case Minshew goes down.

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O’Connell appeared to hit his hand awkwardly on the outstretched hand of onrushing Rams safety Kam Curl on a deep throw. O’Connell, who had the thumb heavily wrapped after returning from the locker room, completed 6 of 10 passes for 52 yards against the Rams. Per ESPN Research, he was pressured on five of his 10 dropbacks (50%) and was 2-of-5 for 19 yards when pressured.

Minshew, signed to a two-year free agent contract with $15 million guaranteed, won a tight training camp battle with O’Connell. Minshew has completed a career-high 70.7% of his passes for 1,014 yards and four touchdowns but has also been picked off five times.

In his last game before getting benched, Minshew threw a 100-yard pick-six against the Denver Broncos in Week 5, turning a potential 17-3 Raiders lead into a 10-10 game in an eventual 34-18 loss. Minshew had a career-low 40.2 QBR at the time of his benching.

Against the Rams, Minshew was 8-of-16 for 90 yards in the first half, with an interception and a lost fumble that was returned for a touchdown.

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