Aidan O’Connell expected to make season debut in finale
In what is looking more and more like a preseason game, the Las Vegas Raiders are taking an August-game approach to Sunday’s season finale at home against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday that he expects both Kenny Pickett and Aidan O’Connell to play in the game. As has been the expectation, starter Geno Smith is not expected to play because of an ankle injury he suffered Sunday against the New York Giants.
The Raiders, 2-14, will get the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2026 with a loss Sunday and, according to ESPN, have an 89 percent chance of getting the pick, which they would be expected to take a quarterback, likely Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza.
Carroll said Pickett and O’Connell will compete for the starting job in practice this week, but he expects Pickett to start because he has been Smith’s backup all season. Still, O’Connell will play some.
He has not played yet this season as he came back in November after breaking his wrist in the preseason finale. The Raiders sent a fifth-round pick to the Cleveland Browns for Pickett two days after O’Connell’s injury. O’Connell, a fourth-round pick in 2023, has played in 20 NFL games with 17 starts.
Pickett finished Sunday’s loss and started in a 31-0 road loss at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15 when Smith was out with shoulder and back injuries.
Smith may have played his final down with the Raiders. Of course, there is a real question if he will return next season. Smith, acquired from the Seattle Seahawks for a third-round pick, has had a terrible first season in Las Vegas. He has thrown a lead-leading 17 interceptions. Fittingly, he was injured on his second interception of the game Sunday.
The Raiders will release an injury report after practice Wednesday and this post will be updated.
Category: General Sports
