Raiders quarterback ruled out for personal reasons

The Raiders will be without quarterback Aidan O’Connell for Sunday’s game against the Chargers as he attends to a personal matter.

O’Connell, who has been with the Raiders since they selected him in the fourth round of the 2023 draft, has been ruled out of the AFC West matchup at SoFi Stadium.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins throws during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, in Las Vegas. AP Photo/John Locher

His absence leaves starter Kirk Cousins and rookie backup Fernando Mendoza as the Raiders’ top two quarterbacks heading into their first divisional game of the season.

O’Connell has filled starting and backup roles during his time in Las Vegas, but the Raiders’ offseason overhaul at quarterback pushed him to third on the depth chart. They signed Cousins and selected Mendoza with the first overall pick, pairing an experienced veteran with the player expected to become their long-term answer at the position.

Aidan O’Connell #12 of the Las Vegas Raiders runs with the ball against the Los Angeles Rams during the first quarter at SoFi Stadium on October 20, 2024 in Inglewood, California. Getty Images

O’Connell was inactive for last week’s season-opening win over the Dolphins, serving as the designated emergency third quarterback.

The former Purdue standout has appeared in 21 games, making 17 starts. He has completed 62% of his passes for 3,932 yards, 20 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, with an 84.1 passer rating.

His most extensive opportunity came as a rookie in 2023, when he started 10 games and threw for 2,218 yards and 12 touchdowns. He made seven more starts in 2024, throwing for 1,612 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions. His playing time dwindled to one appearance last season.

Now in the final year of his rookie contract, O’Connell provides experienced depth in a quarterback room focused on winning with Cousins while preparing Mendoza for the future.

Sunday’s absence removes that additional layer of experience against the Chargers, although it does not change the established order atop the depth chart. Cousins remains the starter, with Mendoza next in line should the Raiders need a replacement.