O’Connell lost the training camp battle with Minshew for the starting quarterback job to open the season. After ineffective play from Minshew, Antonio Pierce swapped signal-callers in Week 6. However, O’Connell made it just midway through his second start of the season before suffering the broken thumb.
O’Connell made 10 starts as a rookie, going 5-5. He displayed an ability to run the offense and get the ball out but lacked field-stretching tendencies that left the offense restricted. We saw some improvement during preseason action, but not enough for him to get the opening-week nod.
Last year, O’Connell started the Raiders’ Week 16 win over Kansas City on Christmas Day. He completed just 9 of 21 attempts for 62 yards, but the Raiders used the ground game and key turnovers forced by the defense to come away with the victory.
At 2-9, the Raiders currently sit with the No. 3 overall pick. If the trend holds, they’d likely be in a position to select a quarterback after they opted out of drafting one 2024. For the time being, however, it’s O’Connell’s chance for another audition.