It seems the Jimmy Garoppolo era with the Las Vegas Raiders could be coming to a screeching halt, or at least for the rest of the 2023 season. Per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the Raiders project to start rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell this Sunday against the New York Giants, sending offseason signee Jimmy Garoppolo to the bench.
The Raiders backed up the Brink’s trunk for Garoppolo this offseason, but the results have been vastly underwhelming. Garoppolo has struggled to produce, while Las Vegas remains tied for last place in the AFC West.
Las Vegas Raiders QB Aidan O’Connell: Promising Rookie Getting First Crack at Leading NFL Squad
Ian Rapoport spoke to an anonymous Raiders source, claiming, “He’s (Aidan O’Connell) our best QB.”
O’Connell, a fourth-round rookie from Purdue, has played in two games this season. He is 34-of-52 for 313 yards and one touchdown against two picks. He has also added a score on the ground. However, the six-foot-three gunslinger posted monster numbers in his final two years of college. O’Connell threw for over 7,000 yards with 40 passing touchdowns in his last 24 starts games with Purdue. He completed 67% during his college tenure.
Jimmy Garoppolo: Benching Comes on Heels of Continued Struggles
Jimmy Garoppolo has struggled to find his footing during his first season with the Las Vegas Raiders. The two-time Super Bowl-winning backup quarterback leads the league with nine interceptions despite playing in just six games. The Eastern Illinois product has thrown just seven passing touchdowns this season while averaging 201 passing yards per game. Garoppolo signed a three-year, $73 million contract with the Raiders this offseason. Garoppolo’s potential benching could mark a disastrous ending for his once-promising tenure in Las Vegas.
The Raiders will also bypass veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer in favor of Aidan O’Connell. Hoyer earned the start over O’Connell earlier this season with Garoppolo unavailable but went just 17-of-32 for 129 and two interceptions in a blowout loss to the Chicago Bears.
For More Football News:
Follow me on Twitter at @alec_musa. You can also reach out to me via email at musaalec@gmail.com. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest college and NFL news, click here!