Raiders signing QB Desmond Ridder with starter Aidan O'Connell set to go on IR

LAS VEGAS — Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell is headed to injured reserve after suffering a fractured right thumb, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed Monday.

O’Connell was injured in the first quarter of Sunday’s 20-15 loss to the Rams at SoFi Stadium. The second-year pro could potentially return this season but he will miss four games at a minimum.

Raiders coach Antonio Pierce did not give an update on O’Connell’s status at his Monday news conference. O’Connell said Sunday his thumb was “throbbing,” but he was hoping for good news when the team returned to Las Vegas.

The Raiders are expected to sign quarterback Desmond Ridder off the Cardinals’ practice squad with O’Connell injured.

Ridder, a third-round pick in 2022, started 13 games for the Falcons last year. The 25-year-old completed 64.2% of his passes for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

The only other quarterbacks in the Raiders’ organization besides O’Connell are veteran Gardner Minshew and undrafted rookie Carter Bradley, who is on the team’s practice squad.

Minshew, who started the team’s first five games before being benched and replaced by O’Connell, committed four turnovers against the Rams, including three interceptions.

Bradley, who threw for 5,995 yards and 47 touchdowns his two seasons at South Alabama, has been with the team since April. The Raiders are intrigued by his arm and athletic ability.

Depth becomes issue

The team opted to carry just O’Connell and Minshew on its 53-man roster to begin the season. Bradley, the son of Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley, was cut before being retained on the practice squad.

Wide receiver Jakobi Meyers is the team’s emergency quarterback, but he’s missed the last two games with an ankle injury. Wide receiver Tyreik McAllister would have gone in the game if Minshew was hurt Sunday.

McAllister has gotten some practice reps as the scout-team quarterback in case he’s ever called on. He also played the role of Lamar Jackson when the Raiders prepared for their Week 2 matchup against Baltimore.

“(McCallister) can run the rock,” Pierce said. “We know what he can do when he has the ball in his hands.”

The Raiders hope Meyers returns soon, perhaps as early as this week against the Chiefs.

Getting Minshew on track

The team’s more immediate concern is getting Minshew, who joined the team as a free agent in March, to take care of the ball better.

One of the reasons the 28-year-old was benched for O’Connell was his penchant for turnovers. Minshew had five interceptions and a fumble his first five games while throwing just four touchdown passes. He wasn’t productive enough to offset his giveaways.

His bad habits grew worse against the Rams. Minshew’s fumble was returned for a touchdown in the second quarter. His four giveaways Sunday give him 10 this season, the most in the NFL.

Minshew said he’s perplexed by the rash of turnovers, but he vowed to get it right.

“Just gotta keep looking at it, keep studying, training good habits,” Minshew said. “We’re going to find our way out of this.”

Pierce said Minshew needs to relax and “get out of his head.” Minshew had 24 interceptions in 49 NFL games — 37 starts — before throwing eight in six appearances this season.