Injury Forces Former Cardinals QB to Enter Raiders Game

Former Arizona Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is now in action for the Las Vegas Raiders.

Oct 27, 2024; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Desmond Ridder (10) prepares to take the snap against the Kansas City Chiefs in the second half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images / Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

ARIZONA -- Former Arizona Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder has been forced into action for the Las Vegas Raiders in their Week 14 battle against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NFL reporter James Palmer says Raiders starting quarterback Aidan O'Connell was pushed from behind on a play and left the stadium with an air cast.

Aidan O’Connell #raiders

Directly lands on his knee, similar to CMC’s PCL injury (which needs to be ruled out) but air cast is usually for a fracture.

This mechanism is common for a patella fracture or tibia fracture. We’ll see what the final report is. Tough one for him pic.twitter.com/HvKdin90pX

— Tom Christ, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT (@FantasyInjuryT) December 8, 2024

Raiders QB Aidan O'Connell carted off with a lower body injury pic.twitter.com/purKlcjwga

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 8, 2024

The Raiders officially ruled him out with a knee injury. O'Connell departed action completing 11 of 19 attempts for 104 yards and one interception. Las Vegas is currently trailing 14-10 in the fourth quarter.

Ridder has played in three games for Las Vegas this season, completing 16 of 26 passes for 138 yards and one touchdown.

Ridder was acquired by the Cardinals via trade early in the 2024 offseason from the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Rondale Moore. Ridder was set to compete with Clayton Tune to backup Kyler Murray in the desert, though he ultimately lost the job and was cut before being re-signed to the practice squad.

Ridder was signed off Arizona's practice squad in late October by Las Vegas.

The Cardinals signed Anthony Brown Jr. to replace Ridder on the practice squad. Tune is still the backup to Murray, who has been healthy this season.