Raiders News: Rich Gannon Still Believes Aidan O’Connell Can Be A Good Quarterback

The quarterback position has been an issue all season long for the Las Vegas Raiders, and they were dealt another blow as Aidan O’Connell went down during the team’s loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Thankfully, the injury isn’t as serious as initially believed, but it could still put O’Connell down for a couple of weeks.

Unfortunately, it has been that kind of season for O’Connell, who suffered a fractured thumb that put him out for a month earlier this season. His second year with the team has just been cursed, but many still believe he can be something for this team, and one of those people is former Raiders star Rich Gannon.

Gannon spoke on O’Connell, saying that the Raiders’ QB has been ‘snake-bitten’ this season but still feels he has a chance to develop into a very good player, via Michael Canelo of Sports Illustrated:

“You hate to see that,” Gannon said. “The guy [Aidan O’Connell] has been snake-bitten this year. You look at the thumb injury earlier in the season that kept him out several weeks, now he comes back. He did some good things last week in the game against the Chiefs and you thought really this was an opportunity for him to kind of finish out the season and really show people what he is capable of doing.”

“I just feel for this kid. This kid has been through a lot. Went 5-5 last year as a rookie with a lot of change around him. And I do not think the final chapter has been written about Aidan O’Connell. I think the kid can play. There is no question in my mind. Whether or not he is going to be the franchise quarterback next year. Whether or not the Raiders going to get a quarterback, which I am sure they will. I think this kid has a chance to develop. It is just unfortunate that he has had so many setbacks here in his second season.”

Any time O’Connell has been given the chance, he has shown the potential to be a serviceable quarterback. His performance against a very good Kansas City Chiefs defense in Week 13 was proof of that, but as Gannon noted, this year just hasn’t gone his way.

Now, the Raiders will likely be in prime position to draft a top quarterback prospect in next year’s draft, but regardless of who the team brings in, Gannon believes O’Connell should be given the chance to compete for the starting job:

“Well, I think the quarterback room is going to look a lot different next year. And my sense is that when they set out the chairs, he is going to have one. If it was me, I would definitely have him on the roster next year. I think he will be a great backup quarterback. And let him compete for the starting job. You are probably got to draft a quarterback. Let them compete. Let them figure out how this thing is going to work out.”

At worst, keeping O’Connell around would give the Raiders an excellent backup QB they know they can turn to if something goes wrong. But there does seem to be something there with O’Connell, and he has earned the chance to compete for the Raiders’ starting job.

Raiders’ QB Aidan O’Connell suffered bone bruise in knee

When Aidan O’Connell was carted off the field with an air cast around his leg, it looked certain that his season was over and he had suffered a severe injury. But that turned out not to be the case, and he may not even miss a game.

MRIs revealed that O’Connell suffered a bone bruise in his left knee and will try to play in the team’s Monday night game against the Atlanta Falcons. If he is unable to go, Desmond Ridder will be the Raiders’ starting quarterback.