The Raiders are set to start Desmond Ridder at quarterback Monday night against the Atlanta Falcons, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Aidan O’Connell was listed as questionable with a knee injury suffered last week against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Desmond Ridder Likely To Start vs. His Former Team
Raiders QB Desmond Ridder is expected to start tonight vs. the Falcons, per sources. Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell is listed as questionable and is expected to work out pregame to see if he can play, but Ridder is expected to start for now.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 16, 2024
O’Connell will test his knee during pregame warmups, but the arrow points towards Ridder getting the start. That would set up Ridder going against the team that drafted him in the third round back in 2022 — Ridder made 17 starts for Atlanta in two seasons. The Falcons traded Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals during the offseason, but Ridder was cut at the end of the preseason before landing on Arizona’s practice squad.
The Raiders poached Ridder off of Arizona’s practice squad after the shoulder injury to Gardner Minshew. The Raiders also have Carter Bradley on the roster and would be the backup if O’Connell is deemed inactive for Monday Night Football.
Ridder has appeared in four games this season in a reserve role following injuries to Minshew and O’Connell. He is 28 of 44 for 239 yards with one touchdown pass.
Last week, it was Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins against his former team, the Minnesota Vikings. Cousins threw a pair of interceptions in the 42-21 loss. So, for the second week in a row, the Falcons are in a game in which a quarterback is facing his former team.
The Raiders enter Monday with a 2-11 record. Only the New York Giants (2-12) have a worse record in the race for the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Five other teams are 3-11. The Raiders finish the season against the Jaguars, Saints, and Chargers.
What Happened to Gardner Minshew?
Minshew suffered a broken collarbone late in Las Vegas’ Week 12 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos. Minshew was sacked by Cody Barton and Jonathon Cooper of the Broncos, landing on his left shoulder — the weight and speed of the fall caused the fracture.
The Raiders knew after the game it was likely a serious injury. Head coach Antonio Pierce even said, “It doesn’t look good.”
How Has Aidan O’Connell Done This Season?
O’Connell appeared in six games with four starts. He completed 86 of 136 passes for 899 yards, four touchdowns, and three interceptions. He also added a rushing touchdown in Week 13 against the Buccaneers.
In two seasons with the Raiders, the former Purdue quarterback has a 5-12 record, throwing for 3,117 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
Will the Raiders Target a QB in the 2025 NFL Draft?
There is a very good chance the Raiders will go after a quarterback, particularly at the top of the first round. The Raiders enter Monday Night Football with a 2-11 record, currently sitting No. 2 in the draft order. The New York Giants hold the top spot at 2-12.
Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward are considered the favorites to be the first two quarterbacks selected in the draft. If the Raiders end up with a top-two pick, they may simply take whichever quarterback does not go No. 1 overall.
It’s fair to think general manager Tom Telesco will want his own quarterback. A top-two draft pick will make that process much smoother.