Aidan O'Connell expected to start for the Raiders after Gardner Minshew's season-ending broken collarbone

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell is expected to be under center to start Friday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

O’Connell is eligible to return from injured reserve in time for the game for the Raiders, who saw fellow quarterback Gardner Minshew sustain a season-ending broken collarbone during the team’s 29-19 loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

O’Connell, 26, returned to practice on Monday and received first-team reps.

He has been sidelined since injuring his thumb in Las Vegas’ 20-15 setback to the Los Angels Rams on October 20.

O’Connell has completed 52 of 82 passes for 455 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in four games this season.

He threw for 2,218 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 11 games as a rookie last season. He was selected by Las Vegas in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Gardner Minshew sustained a season-ending broken collarbone during the loss to the Broncos

Desmond Ridder, 25, replaced Minshew on Sunday and completed five of 10 passes for 64 yards. Ridder has appeared in three games this season for Las Vegas and is 16 of 26 for 138 yards with one TD.

Minshew, 28, completed 25 of 42 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and one interception against the Broncos. 

He finished his first season with the Raiders with 2,013 yards, nine TDs and 10 picks on 66.3 percent passing.

Minshew joined the Raiders in free agency after stints in Jacksonville, Philadelphia and Indianapolis and won the starting job in camp.

He was benched multiple times for O’Connell during a tough season for the Raiders, losers of seven straight games.