Source – Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell has bruise on knee

HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffered a bone bruise in his left knee, tests revealed, in the team’s loss on 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 test results were available, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Desmond Ridder will start if O’Connell is 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 climbing toward the sideline and, after throwing a pass, was pushed from behind by Buccaneers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey and landed awkwardly. O’Connell was carried off the field with his injured leg in a cast. Pierce said after the game that after watching a replay, he thought the hit came late. No flag was thrown.

The Raiders (2-11) have lost nine straight games, their longest losing streak in a season since opening the 2014 campaign 0-10.

The Falcons (6-7) selected Ridder in the third round, 74th overall, in 2022 out of Cincinnati.

“God works in mysterious ways,” Ridder said Sunday about the possibility of 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 said, I’m grateful for the moment that I can be in this position, be able to go out and touch the grass and be able to go out and play with my 10 other brothers on the field. Like we said, we know it’s a Monday game at night. We know, personally, what the game will mean, but I mean, I’m ready to get back to work.

Ridder, after 19 games in two seasons with Atlanta and an 8-9 record as the Falcons’ starter, was released on August 27. A day later, he was signed to the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad.

The Raiders signed him on October 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? That’s how the season has gone for us.

“But there have been some bright spots there, some other spots that we wish we could get back, but what we do see is a guy who is very competitive, who takes his job seriously. And he has a chance, if Aiden can’t go and “It’s starter, it’s another great opportunity for him to show himself.

O’Connell made his second start since returning from injured reserve on Sunday. He has thrown for 899 yards with four touchdowns and three interceptions in six games this season, completing 63.2% of his passes.

Gardner Minshew, who beat O’Connell in a training camp battle but was benched in favor of the second-year quarterback, resumed the starting job when O’Connell went down. Minshew then 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 practice squad.

Other quarterbacks on practice squads around the league with starting experience the Raiders could consider if O’Connell can’t play include Trevor Siemian (Tennessee Titans), Mike White (Buffalo Bills) and Nathan Peterman (Falcons). Peterman was with the Raiders at training camp.

Ridder, meanwhile, has thrown for 3,783 yards with 15 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his career, completing 64% of his attempts. He has a passer rating of 84.2.

“Obviously the team and the game we’re going to play next week are going to be big, and obviously it’s a huge stage, but this team is excited,” Ridder said. “This team is ready to just get a win, ready to put together four quarters, 60 minutes together, to be able to go out and, at the end of the day, put up more points than the other team. How do we do it? We’ve got to figure it out.”