The Las Vegas Raiders suddenly find themselves dealing with an unexpected quarterback problem just weeks before the start of the regular season. Aidan O’Connell, projected to back up Geno Smith, fractured his wrist during Saturday’s preseason loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The third-year quarterback is expected to miss six to eight weeks, landing him on injured reserve.
That leaves rookie Cam Miller as the only healthy option behind Smith — a precarious position for a team with playoff aspirations. Head coach Pete Carroll tried to downplay the situation but acknowledged the urgency.
“We just got to see what we can do and keep developing Cam,” Carroll said. “Fortunately, he got a lot of playing time tonight, and that’ll help him.” When pressed on Miller’s ability to step in as QB2, Carroll stayed noncommittal: “We’ll see. Let’s see what happens here. We’ve got to check the film.”
Raiders Facing Quarterback Depth Crisis After Aidan O’Connell Injury
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The Raiders are expected to move quickly to add depth, with Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton suggesting a familiar name: Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The former UCLA star and Las Vegas native was recently waived by the Eagles following their trade for Sam Howell. Moton argued, “Dorian Thompson-Robinson played under Chip Kelly at UCLA. Eagles have four QBs. DTR to the Raiders sounds logical to me.”
Thompson-Robinson, a fifth-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2023, flashed athleticism in college but has struggled in the NFL. Across 15 appearances, he’s thrown just one touchdown against 10 interceptions, completing 52.6 percent of his passes. Despite his struggles, his ties to Kelly and hometown roots make him an intriguing option.
Still, Las Vegas may prefer a more seasoned backup. Names such as Ryan Tannehill, Tyler Huntley, Brett Rypien, and even Jameis Winston have surfaced as possibilities. With the initial 53-man roster cut-down looming Tuesday, Las Vegas could look to waivers or the trade market to stabilize the position.
For now, Smith is the unquestioned starter. But with O’Connell sidelined, the Raiders’ depth chart is paper-thin — and the front office has little time to find answers.