The Las Vegas Raiders signed quarterback Desmond Ridder off the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad on Tuesday and placed quarterback Aidan O’Connell (fractured thumb) on injured reserve.
In other moves, the Raiders signed wide receiver Terrace Marshall Jr. and tight end Trevon Wesco from the practice squad, and they cut defensive tackle Nesta Jade Silvera.
The Cardinals had acquired Ridder, 25, in a March 14 trade with the Atlanta Falcons for wide receiver Rondale Moore.
The Falcons selected Ridder in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft with the hopes he could replace Matt Ryan as the franchise quarterback. But in two seasons, he owned an 8-9 record in 17 starts (19 games) and completed 64.0 percent of his passes for 3,544 yards with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He also rushed 69 times for 257 yards and five TDs.
Ridder had an up-and-down season in 2023, being replaced as the starter twice by Taylor Heinicke, only to return when Heinicke suffered injuries to a hamstring and ankle.
O’Connell, 26, was injured in Sunday’s 20-15 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. He was named QB1 on Oct. 9, supplanting Gardner Minshew II, who won the job in the preseason.
Rams safety Kamren Curl, who was blitzing on a pass attempt in the first quarter, hit O’Connell on his throwing hand. O’Connell was replaced by Minshew to begin a Raiders drive with 2:33 remaining in the period.
O’Connell was 6-of-10 passing for 52 yards before exiting against the Rams. A fourth-round draft pick in 2023, O’Connell has completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 2,673 yards, 14 TDs and nine picks in 15 career games (12 starts) from 2023-24.
The Raiders (2-5) play host to the Kansas City Chiefs (6-0) on Sunday.
–Field Level Media