Will Aidan O’Connell play for the Raiders against the Falcons for MNF? Falcons could face Desmond Ridder

The Atlanta Falcons travel to Las Vegas for Monday Night Football tonight as they get ready to take on the Raiders in Week 15. While the 2-11 Raiders have already been eliminated from playoff contention, the 6-7 Falcons will be looking to break a four-game losing streak and get back into the playoff race.

As it turns out, they may be playing this game against one of their own former quarterbacks, Desmond Ridder.

Will Aidan O’Connell or Desmond Ridder start for Raiders vs Falcons?

During the Raiders' Week 14 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffered an injury to his knee. He was taken out of the game and replaced by backup Desmond Ridder.

O’Connell later underwent an MRI and was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee. He was unable to participate in practice this week, but did participate in the walkthrough on Wednesday, according to head coach Antonio Pierce. He is currently listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.

If O’Connell is unable to play, the Raiders will turn to Ridder for the starting job against his former team. The Falcons drafted Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft and he served as the backup to Marcus Mariota in his rookie season. He took over the starting job in Week 15 against the New Orleans Saints, but his performance was underwhelming, going just 13-of-26 for 97 yards, no touchdowns, no interceptions, and 38 rushing yards in the loss.

He remained the Falcons' starter to begin the 2023 season, but was downgraded after Week 9 and replaced by Taylor Heinicke. After Heinicke lost the following two games, Ridder was renamed the starter in Week 12.

The Falcons traded Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals in 2024, where he had a short stint before the Raiders signed him to the practice squad in October this year. Now, he may be facing his former team if O’Connell sits this one out.

Before he left the game last week, O’Connell had 104 passing yards, one interception, and one rushing score. When Ridder came in, he finished with 101 passing yards and no scores.

The Monday Night Football game between the Falcons and Raiders kicks off at 8:20 p.m. ET tonight from Allegiant Stadium.

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