Las Vegas Raiders’ Quarterback Situation Looks Promising in Preseason as Jimmy Garoppolo Impresses and Rookie Aidan O’Connell Surprises
The Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback situation has been a major concern this summer, but it is starting to look surprisingly solid as the preseason progresses. Jimmy Garoppolo, who underwent left foot surgery during the offseason, has exceeded expectations since the Raiders signed him to a lucrative contract in free agency.
Garoppolo had some initial ramp-up time during training camp but quickly joined the starting lineup on the field. In two joint practices, one against his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, and the other against the Los Angeles Rams, Garoppolo performed well. He continued his strong performance in the preseason game against the Rams, completing all four of his passes for 39 yards and leading the Raiders to a touchdown on the opening drive of a 34-17 victory.
Raiders’ head coach Josh McDaniels praised Garoppolo’s leadership, stating that he did a great job of commanding the huddle, controlling the line of scrimmage, and making the right decisions. Garoppolo expressed his excitement to be back on the field and play with his teammates after an extended absence due to injury.
Garoppolo signed a three-year, $72.75 million contract with the Raiders, but it was discovered during his physical that he had a lingering left foot injury. To protect the team, the Raiders converted part of Garoppolo’s signing bonus to base salary. However, Garoppolo passed his physical at the start of training camp and has remained healthy since.
During the preseason, Garoppolo took a hit from the Rams’ Jonah Williams but got up without any issues. McDaniels acknowledged that quarterbacks will inevitably get hit during the regular season and credited the hit for helping Garoppolo regain confidence after a long time away from live action.
While Garoppolo has performed as expected and provided stability to the quarterback position, rookie Aidan O’Connell has also been a pleasant surprise for the team. O’Connell, a fourth-round pick, has excelled in his performances with the reserves. He has shown decisiveness and created big plays for the Raiders’ offense.
Garoppolo, when asked about O’Connell, praised the rookie’s work ethic and emphasized the importance of good teamwork. O’Connell, a former walk-on at Purdue, has caught the attention of McDaniels as he competes for the backup quarterback role behind veteran Brian Hoyer.
In his two preseason games, O’Connell has completed 72.2% of his passes for 304 yards, with three touchdowns and no interceptions. He has shown poise in the pocket, with solid decision-making and the ability to deliver accurate passes. However, it’s important to note that O’Connell has mostly faced reserve defenses, while the other high-profile rookie quarterbacks faced starting units.
The Raiders’ decision to move on from Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Carr raised eyebrows during the offseason. However, with Garoppolo proving his health and O’Connell performing well, it seems that McDaniels may have made the right moves.
With one preseason game remaining, McDaniels mentioned that the team is considering various factors before making final decisions on the quarterback depth chart. They will evaluate performances in practice and the upcoming game against the Dallas Cowboys to determine the best course of action moving forward.
As the NFL season is a long journey, situations can change rapidly. However, the Raiders’ quarterback situation looks promising at the moment, giving the team some much-needed stability and options at the position.
