Raiders Activate Aidan O'Connell Amid Geno Smith Struggles

The Las Vegas Raiders are preparing for their Week 9 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, with quarterback Aidan O'Connell recently returning to practice after a fractured wrist sidelined him since the preseason. O'Connell, who has started 17 games over two seasons and completed over 62% of his passes, has a 21-day window to practice and be activated from injured reserve. The Raiders have struggled offensively under veteran Geno Smith, who has thrown a league-leading 10 interceptions this season, prompting calls for a change at quarterback. Fans and analysts are hopeful O'Connell will replace Smith if performance issues continue, as O'Connell has shown cleaner play despite less big-play ability. The Raiders acquired Kenny Pickett as a backup during O'Connell's injury, but O'Connell's return could influence starting decisions moving forward. With a 2-5 record and coming off a bye, the Raiders face pressure to improve their performance, with O'Connell's potential activation seen as a key development.