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Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterDec 9, 2024, 03:01 PM ET
- 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
HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffered a bone bruise to his left knee, tests revealed, in the Raiders’ loss Sunday, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Monday.
O’Connell would like to try to play in the Raiders’ next game, a “Monday Night Football” contest against the Atlanta Falcons, the source told Schefter.
Earlier in the day, before the test results were available, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Desmond Ridder would start if O’Connell was unable to play.
O’Connell was injured late in the third quarter of the Raiders’ 28-13 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was scrambling toward the sideline and, after throwing a pass, was pushed from behind by Buccaneers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and landed awkwardly. O’Connell was carted off the field with his leg in an air cast. Pierce said after the game he thought the hit was late, after watching a replay. No flag was thrown.
Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell sustained a bone bruise to his left knee Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting. AP Photo/Chris O’Meara
The Raiders (2-11) have lost nine straight games, their longest in-season losing streak since they opened the 2014 season 0-10.
The Falcons (6-7) drafted Ridder in the third round, No. 74 overall, in the 2022 draft out of Cincinnati.
“God works in mysterious ways,” Ridder said Sunday of potentially starting against the Falcons, following his fourth relief appearance of the season for Las Vegas. He has played 62 snaps for the Raiders.
“Like I’ve said, I’m grateful for anytime I’m able to be in this position, to be able to go out there and touch grass and be able to go out there and play with my 10 other brothers on the field. Like we’ve said, we know it’s a Monday night game. We know, for myself personally, what the game will mean. But, I mean, I’m excited. I’m ready to get back to work.”
Ridder, after 19 games over two seasons with Atlanta and an 8-9 record as the Falcons’ starter, was released on Aug. 27. A day later, he was signed to the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad.
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The Raiders signed him on Oct. 22, two days after O’Connell suffered a broken thumb on his right (passing) hand.
“He’s been good,” Pierce said of Ridder. “I mean, oddly enough, he’s played a lot of games, right? It’s the way the season has gone for us.
“But there’s been some bright spots there, some other spots we wish we had back, but what we do see is a guy who is very competitive, that takes his job serious. And he has an opportunity, if Aiden’s not able to go and he’s a starter, it’s another great opportunity for him to showcase himself.”
O’Connell on Sunday was making his second start since his return from injured reserve. He has thrown for 899 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in six games, completing 63.2% of his pass attempts.
Gardner Minshew, who beat out O’Connell in a training camp battle but was benched in favor of the second-year quarterback, re-assumed the starting job when O’Connell went down but then he suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in Week 12.
The only other quarterback under contract with the Raiders is undrafted rookie Carter Bradley, who is on the team’s practice squad.
Other quarterbacks on practice squads around the league who have starting experience the Raiders may be intrigued to bring in for their final four games if O’Connell cannot play include: Trevor Siemian (Tennessee Titans), Mike White (Buffalo Bills) and Nathan Peterman (Falcons). Peterman was with the Raiders in training camp.
Ridder, meanwhile, has passed for 3,783 yards with 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his career while completing 64% of his attempts. He has a career passer rating of 84.2.
“Obviously, the team and the game that we’re going to play next week is going to be big, and it’s obviously a huge stage, but this team’s excited,” Ridder said. “This team’s ready to just get a win, ready to put four quarters together, 60 minutes together, to be able to go out there and, at the end of the day, put up more points than the other team. How we do that, we’ve got to figure that out.”
