Raiders Quarterback Aidan O'Connell Ruled Out for Personal Reasons
Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza remain the top two quarterbacks for Sunday's game against the Chargers.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers due to a personal matter. O'Connell, a fourth-round pick by the Raiders in the 2023 draft, will miss the AFC West matchup at SoFi Stadium.
His absence elevates veteran Kirk Cousins to the starting role and places rookie Fernando Mendoza as the primary backup quarterback. The Raiders added Cousins and drafted Mendoza with the first overall pick in the offseason, signaling a shift in their quarterback depth chart.
O'Connell was inactive for the Raiders' season-opening game, serving as the emergency third quarterback. In 21 career games, including 17 starts, he has completed 62% of his passes for 3,932 yards, 20 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, holding a passer rating of 84.1. His most significant playing time came in 2023, when he started 10 games and threw for 2,218 yards and 12 touchdowns. He started seven games in 2024, accumulating 1,612 passing yards, eight touchdowns, and four interceptions, with one appearance last season.
O'Connell is in the final year of his rookie contract. His current situation leaves the team with Cousins as the established starter and Mendoza as the developing future at the position.