With Aidan O'Connell injured, Desmond Ridder in line to start Week 15 vs. Falcons

At this point, Desmond Ridder is in line for a revenge game.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce said in his Monday press conference that the club is still waiting for test results on Aidan O'Connell's injured knee. O’Connell exited the contest on a cart and with an air cast on his leg. Pierce said postgame that the injury didn’t look good.

That means Ridder could make his first start of the season for Las Vegas as the club takes on Atlanta next week.

“Yeah, no Aidan, it’ll be Desmond — as of now,” Pierce said Monday.

Ridder has made four appliances for the Raiders since the club brought him in midway through the year. He’s completed 28-of-44 passes for 239 yards with a touchdown.

“I think he’s been good,” Pierce said. “Oddly enough, he’s played in a lot of games. So it’s the way this season’s gone for us. But there have been some bright spots, there have been some other spots that we wish we had back. But what we do see is a guy that’s very competitive, that takes his job serious. He has an opportunity. If Aidan is not able to go and he’s the starter, it’s another great opportunity for him to showcase himself.”

Ridder started 13 games for the Falcons last year after the club selected him in the third round of the 2022 draft. He completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,836 yards with 12 touchdowns and 12 interceptions for Atlanta in 2023. He was then traded to the Cardinals in the offseason and was on Arizona’s practice squad when the Raiders signed him in October.