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Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on after the 23-18 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, September 24, 2023. /CFP
Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo of the Las Vegas Raiders looks on after the 23-18 loss against the Pittsburgh Steelers at Allegiant Stadium in Paradise, Nevada, September 24, 2023. /CFP
The Las Vegas Raiders will miss their starting quarterback (QB) Jimmy Garoppolo in the coming game against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium Inglewood, California, on October 1, due to the National Football League’s (NFL’s) concussion protocol, according to ESPN.
Having joined the Raiders on a three-year, $72.75 million contract during the offseason, Garoppolo started all of the first three games of the team. He completed 64 of his 94 passes to generate 709 yards and five touchdowns but with six interceptions. The team lost two of the three games.
Garoppolo suffered a concussion in the 23-18 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 24. He never left that game, but entered concussion protocol after the competition.
The Raiders have two options to replace Garoppolo, rookie Aidan O’Connell, who was drafted by the team with the 135th pick this year, or 37-year-old veteran Brian Hoyer. The Raiders are the eighth team Hoyer has played for since he entered the league in 2009. He hasn’t started since October 2016 and has lost 12 straight games as a starter.
Quarterback Aidan O’Connell of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up ahead of the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, September 10, 2023. /CFP
Quarterback Aidan O’Connell of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up ahead of the game against the Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado, September 10, 2023. /CFP
“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 told 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.”
ESPN revealed that the Raiders are leaning toward O’Connell, who completed 43 of his 62 passes for 482 yards and three touchdowns with no interception in three pre-season games.
“I mean, we’ve been all working together for so long now, so it’s really not as big of a thing as what it might seem on the outside, as far as the adjustment and getting used to going with somebody new,” wide receiver Davante Adams said. “But even within training camp, Jimmy would take a couple reps and then Hoyer would come in and throw. I’ve caught balls from Aidan in training camp as well. So, it’s definitely less than what I’ve caught from [No.] 10, but we’re making it up right now.”
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