With Jimmy Garoppolo dominated out because of a concussion and now not making the shuttle to Los Angeles, the Raiders have determined to start out rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell towards the Chargers on Sunday, league assets informed ESPN.

The Raiders are opting to exit with O’Connell, a fourth-round draft variety, over veteran Brian Hoyer, who terminating received a get started in October 2016. The 2 quarterbacks each won reps throughout follow terminating moment age Garoppolo was once within the concussion protocol, however O’Connell were given the bulk — if now not all — of the reps at follow through the top of the moment, in step with assets.

O’Connell will construct his first NFL get started and effort the primary passes of his professional profession in an AFC West divisional showdown at SoFi Stadium towards a Chargers protection that enters Sunday given up a median of over 450 yards consistent with recreation throughout the first 3 video games of this season.

O’Connell was once a preseason standout this summer season, drawing comparisons from some NFL scouts and managers to Brock Purdy, some other late-round select who were given the chance to start out terminating season for the San Francisco 49ers.

In 3 preseason video games in August, O’Connell finished 43-of-62 passes (69.4%) for 482 yards and 3 touchdowns with out an interception. He left some Raiders lovers questioning why he wasn’t the additional quarterback to observable the season, when Las Vegas indexed Hoyer because the Incorrect. 2 quarterback.

O’Connell additionally shined throughout his school profession at Purdue, the place he handed for 9,219 yards and 65 touchdowns.

“I think the preseason was valuable for me at the time, just to get out there and play and get it under my belt,” O’Connell informed ESPN on Friday. “But I think at this point it’s pretty far gone and it’s different teams and different schemes and different game plans for us. So I’m happy it happened, but it’s time to move on, I think, and see what happens.”

The Raiders signed Garoppolo to a three-year, $72.75 million detached agent guarantee this offseason to switch nine-year starter Derek Carr, whilst Garoppolo wanted surgical treatment on his left footing upcoming coming to phrases with Las Vegas.

Garoppolo, who suffered the concussion in terminating Sunday night time’s loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, has ignored no less than 16 regular-season and playoff video games as a result of shock since 2020.