Aidan O'Connell to Start for Raiders vs. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs in NFL Week 13

The Las Vegas Raiders will start Aidan O'Connell for Friday's Week 13 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, head coach Antonio Pierce told reporters on Wednesday.

O'Connell returned to practice on Monday for the first time since he was placed on IR following a right thumb fracture in Week 7.

The Raiders had 21 days from Monday to clear O'Connell now that he has returned to practice. Pierce said on Monday that O'Connell would need to be able to be comfortable gripping the ball without pain to return to game action.

"Just being able to be efficient," Pierce said. "Put a player out there that's hurting or injured still, that's not in the benefit of the player or our team."

Pierce also noted that the Raiders would mostly be doing walkthroughs rather than full practices this week due to the limited break between Sunday's loss to the Denver Broncos and the game on Friday.

Desmond Ridder should slot back into the backup role with Gardner Minshew out for the season with a broken collarbone. Ridder played parts of two drives after Minshew was injured on Sunday. He was not able to lead the Raiders to the end zone as he went 5-of-10 for 64 yards and no touchdowns.