The Las Vegas Raiders activated quarterback Aidan O’Connell from a three-month spell on injured reserve, the team announced Wednesday.
O’Connell fractured his right wrist in the Raiders’ preseason finale on Aug. 23 and was placed on the injured list the following week, delaying the start of his third NFL season.
He was on track to be the No. 2 quarterback behind Las Vegas starter Geno Smith, who has thrown for a 66.3% completion rate, 208.2 yards per game, 12 touchdowns and 13 interceptions while piloting the Raiders to a 2-8 record.
Pivoting when O’Connell was hurt, Las Vegas sent a fifth-round draft pick to the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 25 to acquire Kenny Pickett.
The Raiders host the Browns on Sunday.
Raiders coach Pete Carroll told reporters that O’Connell practiced against the first-team defense this week, indicating he has leapfrogged Pickett — who has three pass attempts this season — on the depth chart.
“He’s had quite a bit of practice opportunity to get going,” Carroll said Tuesday. “He’s done all right with it, too.”
O’Connell, 27, was a fourth-round draft selection in 2023 and started stretches of his first two seasons for the Raiders after taking the job from Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew II.
His record in 17 career starts is 7-10, and he has completed 62.6% of throws for 3,830 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
The Raiders have dropped their last four games and are the last-place team in the AFC West by three games.
–Field Level Media
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