The Raiders fell 29-19 to the Broncos on Sunday, but their bad luck extended beyond just the Week 12 game's result.
Starting quarterback Gardner Minshew went to the locker room late in the matchup after his body got slammed to the ground on a sack. Not long after head coach Antonio Pierce said Minshew's injury "doesn't look good," NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the quarterback will miss the rest of the 2024 season with a broken collarbone.
It's tough news for Las Vegas, which is just 2-9 this season. By now, the Raiders' playoff hopes were already likely long gone, but losing Minshew will still make things a lot harder for the team's offense over the final stretch of the 2024 season.
With Minshew done for the current campaign, here's a look at the rest of Las Vegas' quarterback room as the Raiders turn toward other options at QB1.
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Raiders QB depth chart
| Rank | Player |
| 1 | Gardner Minshew (out) |
| 2 | Aidan O'Connell (IR) |
| 3 | Desmond Ridder |
No. 1: Gardner Minshew
Minshew entered Week 12 with 1,783 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, and nine interceptions. Sunday's matchup against the Broncos marked his 10th game under center for Las Vegas this season.
While it hasn't all been pretty for Minshew and the Raiders, he was the quarterback in Las Vegas' wins over Baltimore and Cleveland. Also, mostly playing with Minshew at quarterback, rookie tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers have each had solid seasons.
With Minshew out, the Raiders have just one other healthy quarterback on their current roster.
No. 2: Aidan O'Connell
O'Connell remains on IR with a thumb injury, but Pierce said after Sunday's game that there's a chance he's able to return for the Raiders' next matchup against the Chiefs.
The 26-year-old was drafted in the fourth round by Las Vegas in 2023, playing in 11 games last season and four so far this season. O'Connell has thrown for 2,673 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, and nine interceptions in his young NFL career so far.
It remains to be seen if O'Connell can get healthy in time for the Raiders' next game. However, with his previous starting experience for Las Vegas, he'd be the likely candidate to take over as QB1 after Minshew's injury.
No. 3: Desmond Ridder
Ridder, the former Falcon, took over in relief of Minshew in Week 12. He threw just 10 passes, completing five of them for 64 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.
If O'Connell isn't healthy enough to play yet, the 25-year-old Ridder also brings prior starting experience to the table. Over the 2023 season in Atlanta, Ridder threw for 2,836 yards, 12 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Until Pierce names a Week 13 starter, it remains to be seen whether O'Connell or Ridder will take over for the Raiders at quarterback. Carter Bradley is the team's practice squad quarterback, so he could be elevated to the team's roster if needed, as well.
