Raiders sign QB Desmond Ridder following Aidan O’Connell’s injury, per source: Could he be an option to start?

In mild of Aidan O’Connell’s harm, the Las Vegas Raiders are losing no time including to their quarterback room, signing Desmond Ridder to the crew, in keeping with a crew supply.

Ridder was plucked off the Arizona Cardinals’ follow squad and can be part of the Raiders for Week 8. In two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, Ridder threw for 3,544 yards with 14 touchdowns towards 12 interceptions. Throughout that point, he went 8-9 as a starter.

Ridder, a third-round select of Cincinnati within the 2022 NFL Draft, was traded to Arizona for extensive receiver Rondale Moore in March. The 25-year-old sign caller has but to play a snap this season.

Ridder’s signing comes after O’Connell suffered a fractured thumb within the crew’s Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams that can land him on injured reserve and sideline him for 4 to 6 weeks, a league and crew supply confirmed Monday.

O’Connell began the final two video games after taking the beginning job from Gardner Minshew. O’Connell has thrown for 455 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions on the yr, whereas Minshew has 1,168 passing yards with 4 touchdowns and eight interceptions for the season.

In latest weeks, the Raiders offense noticed extensive receiver Jakobi Meyers sidelined by harm. Fellow WR Davante Adams was moved in a deal to the New York Jets final week after asking for a commerce whereas first-round draft decide tight finish Brock Bowers has emerged as a vibrant spot, main the crew in receptions (47), targets (60) and receiving yards (477).

On the entire, the crew’s offense ranks twenty fourth in factors, twenty fifth in whole offense, thirtieth in speeding, are tied for the fifth-most sacks allowed (20) and the crew’s quarterbacks lead the league in interceptions (10).

May Ridder begin for the Raiders?

The Raiders wanted a wholesome quarterback physique as O’Connell broke his thumb on Sunday. They’re additionally unsure about whether or not to hurry up the timeline on follow squad QB Carter Bradley, an undrafted rookie out of South Alabama. Ridder was benched twice by the Falcons final yr, and so they traded the 2022 third-rounder to the Cardinals. The Cardinals launched Ridder when he misplaced the battle for the backup job to rookie Clayton Tune, however then re-signed him to the follow squad.

Minshew, who the crew gave $15 million assured this offseason, stays the de facto starter for now regardless of having 4 turnovers within the loss Sunday and a league-high 10 on the season. Ridder began 13 video games for the Falcons final yr. He accomplished 64.2 % of his passes for two,836 yards, 12 TDs and 12 INTs. — Vic Tafur, Raiders senior author

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(Picture: Norm Corridor / Getty Photographs)