The Las Vegas Raiders are bringing in a new quarterback after Aidan O’Connell was injured.
The Raiders are signing former third-round pick Desmond Raider from the Arizona Cardinals practice squad, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
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Ridder will join Gardner Minshew in the Raiders’ quarterback room. The signing comes after quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffered a broken thumb in Week 7 and was placed on injured reserve on Monday.
DENVER, CO – AUGUST 25: Desmond Rader #19 of the Arizona Cardinals prepares to pass against the Denver Broncos in the third quarter during a preseason game at Empower Field at Mile High on August… DENVER, CO – August 25: Desmond Rader #19 of The Arizona Cardinals pass against the Denver Broncos in the third quarter during a preseason game at Empower Field at Mile High on August 25, 2024 in Denver, Colorado. Ryder joins the Raiders. More Dustin Bradford/Getty Images
Ryder, 25, was initially drafted in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He made four starts in his rookie year, completing 63.5 percent of his passes for 708 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. He added 64 yards on 16 attempts, and the Falcons went 2-2 in his debut.
Ridder was named the starter for the 2023 season and started in 13 games, leading the Falcons to a 6-7 record in those games. He completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,836 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He ran 53 times for 193 yards and five more touchdowns on the ground.
The Falcons then signed veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins last season, making Raider expendable. He was dealt to the Cardinals for wide receiver Rondell Moore.
Ridder competed for the Cardinals’ backup quarterback job but lost out to Clayton Tune. He was released and then shortly thereafter re-signed to the practice squad.
Ryder has been on the Cardinals’ practice squad this year, but now he’ll get a chance in Las Vegas.
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Minshew was named the starting quarterback to open the season but was benched before Week 6 by O’Connell. However, O’Connell only managed to make two appearances before suffering an injury on Sunday. Minchu was then thrown back into the fire during the match.
Minshew struggled mightily Sunday in relief of O’Connell, completing just 44.1 percent of his passes for 154 yards with no touchdowns and three interceptions. While Minshew will likely start again in Week 8 as Ridder learns the playbook, the Raiders likely won’t be shy about giving Ridder a chance to lead the offense.
The Raiders enter Week 8 at 2-5 and in last place in the AFC West. It doesn’t get any easier this week as they face the only undefeated team, the Kansas City Chiefs, on Sunday in a divisional matchup.
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