HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell “ought to be good to go” and begin Sunday in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce stated Friday.
This after O’Connell was carted off the sector whereas sporting an air solid on his left leg on Dec. 8 on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and lacking Monday evening’s loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
He has practiced in a full capability this week.
“It felt nice,” O’Connell stated earlier this week. “Yeah, it felt actually good. It’s at all times enjoyable simply being on the market with the fellows once more and, yeah, the physique felt nice.”
O’Connell misplaced a coaching camp battle to free agent signee Gardner Minshew however took over for an ineffective Minshew in Week 6.
A damaged thumb on his proper (passing) hand suffered in his second begin sidelined O’Connell for 4 video games earlier than he once more changed Minshew, who suffered a season-ending damaged collarbone on Nov. 24.
O’Connell then suffered the knee damage at Tampa Bay and was changed by Desmond Ridder in opposition to the Falcons.
“I positively have watched much more than I wished to this yr, from the sideline or from wherever, and so it is positively been irritating not being on the sector,” stated O’Connell, who has began 4 of the six video games during which he is performed this season. “I feel I realized loads in highschool and in faculty, each having to sort of sit on the bench for some time and wait my flip. [That] positively taught me persistence.
“But on the identical time, I feel I do know what it is prefer to must work and while you’re not on the market and perhaps not be capable of see the progress daily, however [I] simply sort of must belief the method.”
O’Connell, who began 10 video games for the Raiders as a rookie, has handed for 899 yards with 4 touchdowns and three interceptions whereas finishing 63.2% of his passes.
“If you simply reside recreation by recreation, I feel that is a harmful place to be and so I’m positively going to focus and make it a one-game season,” he stated. “But there’s a number of soccer to be performed, I hope, in the remainder of my profession.
“So I’m simply taking the chance as it’s and, I feel, while you put an excessive amount of stress on your self, you place your self in a foul place. So I’m simply going to lock in and concentrate on this week and no matter’s to return after that, I’ll fear about it later.”
The Raiders, who’ve misplaced 10 straight video games, are tied with the New York Giants for the worst document within the league at 2-12, whereas the Jaguars are 3-11.
