Raiders QB O’Connell struggles with turnovers in preseason performances

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell’s preseason struggles have raised concerns as he enters his third NFL season, with head coach Pete Carroll identifying specific issues with the quarterback’s performance that need immediate attention.

Tempo problems and poor decisions plague O’Connell

During Saturday’s preseason matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, Carroll highlighted a concerning pattern with O’Connell’s play. The head coach noted that the offense operates noticeably slower when O’Connell is under center, with delays from huddle to snap that disrupt the team’s rhythm. Carroll admitted they’re still trying to work out these tempo issues.

The timing problems weren’t the only concern. O’Connell threw a costly interception that drew sharp criticism from both the coaching staff and the broadcast booth. The pass was thrown directly to a well-covered defender, prompting Carroll to say that O’Connell should have thrown the ball away or taken off running instead of forcing the throw at such a crucial moment.

Former Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon, calling the game from the broadcast booth, didn’t mince words about the poor decision. The interception came at a particularly awkward moment, occurring while general manager John Spytek was observing from the booth, though he offered no visible reaction to the turnover.

Pattern of turnovers continues from Week 1

O’Connell’s struggles against the 49ers followed an equally troubling performance in the preseason opener against Seattle. The third-year quarterback completed 18 of 30 passes for 205 yards but threw two interceptions that overshadowed any positives from his stat line.

Both picks came in the second quarter against the Seahawks. The first was an underthrown deep ball that Josh Jobe easily intercepted with a 38-yard return. The second came when Nehemiah Pritchett jumped a route, leading to a Seattle field goal. These turnovers contributed to the Raiders managing only three points in the first half before mounting a comeback to salvage a 23-23 tie.

Backup role secure despite struggles

With veteran Geno Smith now established as the Raiders’ starting quarterback after being acquired via trade from Seattle this offseason, O’Connell’s role for 2025 is clearly defined as the backup. The coaching staff maintains confidence in him for this position, though his preseason performances have done little to inspire faith that he could handle starting duties if needed.

While O’Connell will likely retain the QB2 spot by default, rookie Cam Miller has shown enough flashes to catch the coaching staff’s attention. Miller displayed some promising moments over two preseason games, including a 41-yard touchdown pass to Shedrick Jackson against Seattle. However, his performance regressed somewhat in the second preseason game, suggesting he hasn’t quite done enough to challenge O’Connell for the backup position.

Looking ahead

The Raiders’ quarterback situation appears settled heading into the regular season, with Smith bringing the veteran stability and experience that head coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Spytek prioritized in their offseason moves. The Smith acquisition addresses the instability that has plagued the position in recent years.

For O’Connell, who has started 17 games over his first two NFL seasons, the preseason struggles serve as a stark reminder that significant development is still needed. The tempo issues and poor decision-making under pressure remain glaring weaknesses that must be addressed if he’s to provide reliable depth behind Smith during the regular season.

The Raiders coaching staff will continue working with O’Connell to improve his command of new offensive coordinator Chip Kelly’s system, but patience may be wearing thin among fans who have watched these recurring issues persist into his third year. With the regular season approaching, O’Connell needs to show marked improvement to maintain his standing as the team’s primary backup quarterback.

Image Sources: https://sports.yahoo.com/article/pete-carroll-points-big-problem-124203712.html

Category: Sports
Subcategory: Raiders Football
Date: 08/20/2025