Raiders Rumors: Aidan O'Connell's Knee Injury Diagnosed as Bone Bruise; Status TBD

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell has been diagnosed with a bone bruise and has not yet been ruled out for Monday's game against the Atlanta Falcons, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

The injury is reportedly not believed to be season ending, per Jordan Schultz of Fox Sports.

O'Connell had an air cast placed on his left leg and was replaced by Desmond Ridder. The Raiders officially ruled O'Connell out for the remainder of the game.

O'Connell was 11-of-19 for 104 yards and an interception on Sunday. He took one sack.

O'Connell previously became the starter after Gardner Minshew was lost for the season in late November with a broken collarbone,

Coming into Sunday, he had thrown for 795 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in five games (three starts), completing 64.1 percent of his passes while taking six sacks. The Raiders were 0-3 in his starts.

Las Vegas played musical chairs at quarterback this season, starting the season with Minshew under center before demoting him in early October in favor of O'Connell. But O'Connell broke his thumb later in the month and was placed on injured reserve, with Minshew returning to the starting gig until he broke his collarbone.

Now, it appears possible that the Raiders will turn to Ridder for the rest of the season. The 25-year-old appeared in 19 games for the Falcons in his first two seasons (17 starts), throwing for 3,544 yards, 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, completing 64 percent of his passes while taking 40 sacks.

Atlanta was 8-9 in his starts and replaced him with Kirk Cousins in free agency and Michael Penix Jr. in the draft. The Raiders signed him off the Arizona Cardinals' practice squad in late October after O'Connell was placed on injured reserve.

If O'Connell winds up missing the rest of the season, the 2-11 Raiders—losers of nine straight—will have four games to evaluate Ridder down the stretch, though it seems like a virtual lock that Las Vegas will address the quarterback position in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.

For Ridder, however, it will be the chance to prove to teams that he still has a future in the league after the struggles of his first two seasons.