Aidan O’Connell’s expected injury timeline revealed

Dec 25, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell (4) shouts toward the sidelines against the Kansas City Chiefs during the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Raiders may be without quarterback Aidan O’Connell through Thanksgiving.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Monday that O’Connell is now expected to miss four-to-six weeks with the broken thumb that he suffered on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams. O’Connell is reportedly getting a second opinion as well to confirm the initial diagnosis.

The 26-year-old O’Connell suffered the injury in the first half of Sunday’s eventual 20-15 loss to the Rams. He had his throwing hand hit by Rams safety Kam Curl on a pass attempt (video here).

O’Connell had recently won the starting QB gig for the Raiders, displacing veteran Gardner Minshew. But O’Connell’s tenure as the starter ended up lasting just two games before his injury. Now Las Vegas will have to turn back to Minshew, likely at least through Week 12 against Denver (the Raiders have a bye in Week 10). That could be a problem given how underwhelming Minshew was to start the season.