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The Las Vegas Raiders had been quietly optimistic heading into the 2025 season. This was especially true after trading for Geno Smith to stabilize their quarterback position. In the NFL, though, stability is always fragile. That point was hammered home in the preseason finale when backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffered a fractured right wrist. That will sideline him for six to eight weeks. O’Connell’s absence immediately shifts the Raiders’ quarterback depth chart into flux. It creates an urgent question: who will step in as Smith’s safety net? With the regular season around the corner, the Raiders must act quickly to identify their best option.
The Raiders have steadily retooled their offense over the past two seasons, and the results are becoming hard to overlook. Brock Bowers took the league by storm as a rookie by leading all tight ends in receptions and yards. He should have an even bigger sophomore campaign. Rookie running back Ashton Jeanty also looks ready to make an early impact, adding another explosive element to the unit. Sure, Las Vegas still has plenty of work to do on defense before being viewed as true contenders. However, their offensive firepower makes them a team no opponent should take lightly.
Las Vegas wrapped up its 2025 preseason on August 23 with a 20-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, finishing the exhibition slate winless at 0-2-1. Their preseason included a Week 1 tie against the Seattle Seahawks (23-23), a narrow Week 2 defeat to the San Francisco 49ers (22-19), and the finale setback to Arizona. The bad news didn’t stop with the record, though. Again, O’Connell fractured his right wrist in the preseason finale and is now expected to miss significant time. The timing couldn’t be worse, as the Raiders head into the regular season with playoff hopes and a reshaped offense designed to take a big step forward.
Here we’ll try to look at and discuss the Las Vegas Raiders’ best QB options to replace injured O’Connell as Geno Smith’s backup.
The most straightforward solution would be to hand the backup job to rookie Cam Miller. Miller was thrust into extended duty after O’Connell’s injury in the finale. He finished with 102 yards on 12-of-24 passing, though much of that production came during garbage time. Yes, Miller showed flashes. That said, he also looked overwhelmed against Arizona’s second- and third-string defenders.
It’s not hard to see why sticking with Miller is risky. The Raiders view themselves as an improving team in the AFC. Smith’s durability can’t be taken for granted. Counting on an untested rookie as the next man up feels like a gamble. It’s one that head coach Pete Carroll may be unwilling to take. Miller has a future in this league, but asking him to serve as Smith’s insurance policy in a pivotal season is likely too much, too soon.
If the Raiders want a quick fix,...
