Another NFL week, Another questionable quarterback hit, another injury.
Raiders’ Aidan O’Connell was carted off the field on Sunday after falling awkwardly from a late hit by Buccaneers defensive tackle Calijah Kancey while scrambling to make a pass at Raymond James Stadium.
Late in the third quarter as the Raiders trailed 14-10, the second-year quarterback left the field with his left leg in an air cast with what the team announced as a knee injury.
🚨🚨REFS ARE AWFUL🚨🚨
Aidan O’Connell was carted off the field with his leg in an air cast after a defender hit him late.
100% late and a dirty hit.
No call from the refs.
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) December 8, 2024
As he was carted off, O’Connell did give the crowd a thumbs up in the air.
Raiders coach Antonio Pierce told reporters O’Connell’s knee “doesn’t look good.”
It’s another major injury blow for the Raiders, who saw their initial starter, Gardner Minshew, suffer a season-ending broken collarbone just two weeks ago.
Desmond Ridder, who signed off the Cardinals practice squad on Oct. 22, took O’Connell’s place as the only active quarterback for the Raiders.
If needed, wideout Jakobi Meyers is the team’s emergency signal caller.
Sunday was only O’Connell’s second start after coming off of injury reserve from a broken thumb on his right throwing hand that he hurt on Oct. 20.
He was the Raiders’ starter in the 2023 season, leading them to an 8-9 record.
