Aidan O’Connell took over in the second half of the Las Vegas Raiders‘ preseason contest against the Houston Texans and delivered when it mattered most.
He completed 15 of 24 passes for 166 yards, posting an 83.0 passer rating, and added a rushing touchdown. The signature moment came late: with 1:37 left and the Raiders trailing, O’Connell drove the offense 98 yards down the field, hitting wide receiver Brandon Johnson for a 33-yard gain to the 1-yard line before punching it in himself with 14 seconds remaining to win the game, 22-20. His 62.5% completion percentage ranks as the ninth-best mark in a Raiders preseason game since 2017.
For Las Vegas, this performance carries real weight beyond the box score…
With Kirk Cousins theoretically entrenched as the starter and Fernando Mendoza still developing behind a shaky offensive line, O’Connell’s position as the clear No. 2 quarterback has just been reinforced. Consider this scenario: it’s Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins, and, God forbid, Cousins sprains his ankle and goes down late in the third quarter. Who would you trust in that moment—O’Connell or Mendoza?
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A strong, composed showing like last night, especially engineering a game-winning drive under pressure, makes it easier for the coaching staff to trust him if Cousins ever needs a breather during the season. It also raises his value as insurance, which is important for a team that can’t afford to have instability at the position given its aspirations.
Hot take: O’Connell should enter the regular season as the No. 2 quarterback, and this performance probably ends any real competition for that spot.
Does this performance change how you view the Raiders’ quarterback depth chart heading into the season? Let us know in the comments.
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images