Aidan O’Connell leads Raiders to blowout preseason win over 49ers

By Case Keefer (contact)

Published Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023 | 3:49 p.m.

Updated Sunday, Aug. 13, 2023 | 6:01 p.m.

The Raiders might have a competent backup quarterback with high upside after all.

Aidan O’Connell, a rookie fourth-round draft pick out of Purdue, put on a strong audition for the role Sunday afternoon at Allegiant Stadium in the Raiders’ preseason opener against the San Francisco 49ers. O’Connell led the Raiders to a 34-7 victory by throwing for 141 yards and a touchdown on 15-for-18 passing before he was substituted out in the fourth quarter.

“It was a good first time but there’s still a long way to go,” O’Connell said in the locker room after the game.

It’s difficult to imagine how O’Connell’s debut could have gone much better. He technically had three incompletions, but two of them were dropped passes — both by fellow rookie Tre Tucker, a third-round pick out of Cincinnati.

“There were a lot of firsts for him today — first play call, first feeling pressure in the pocket, first two-minute drive, first halftime,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said of O’Connell. “I thought he generally handled himself well in his first opportunity.”

O’Connell looked like he was struggling to adjust to life in the NFL just a little more than a week ago. In his first handful of practices this summer, he forced a number of off-target throws and took several would-be sacks (defenders aren’t allowed to hit the quarterbacks in practice).

But he hardly looked like the same guy from the start of training camp on Sunday. O’Connell was in total control against the 49ers, finding receivers all over the field with a quick release, stoic pocket presence and unquestioned command in the huddle.

“Real loud dude,” running back Zamir White said. “Always that way…He’s energetic and just going all the time.”

White, a second-year player out of Georgia, scored Las Vegas’ first touchdown on a one-yard power rush to cap its first drive and go up 7-0. He was the focal point of the possession, though O’Connell also hit tight end Cole Fotheringham and Tucker for a pair of long completions on his first two passing attempts.  

Fotheringham and wide receiver Keelan Cole, two players fighting for some of the Raiders’ final roster spots, were the rookie quarterback’s two favorite targets. The former had five catches for 71 yards while the latter recorded six catches for 29 yards and a touchdown.

“It was fun to be out there with live action and the bullets really flying,” O’Connell said. “It’s a little different when you play quarterback: Even when you practice against another team, they can’t tackle you in practice, so now that they can, it’s an added level.”

The Raiders’ defense sure looked ready to hit an opposing quarterback. They consistently hindered 49ers starter Trey Lance, registering four sacks and perhaps double that amount in total pressures.

Lance did throw one touchdown pass, to tight end Ross Dwelley, but only after Raiders cornerback Duke Shelley dropped an interception in the end zone. The ball deflected off Shelley’s hands, and Dwelley was able to dive and gather it to tie the score at 7-7.

That came midway through the second quarter and would prove to be the 49ers' only points of the day. 

Raiders rookie linebacker Amari Burney later dropped another pick, but the takeaways eventually came. The Las Vegas defense set up a pair of easy scores for the offense in the second half, starting with veteran linebacker Curtis Bolton punching out a ball caught by San Francisco rookie tight end Cameron Latu at the 16-yard line late in the third quarter.

Rookie undrafted cornerback Azizi Hearn recovered the loose ball, and three plays later, second-year running back Sincere McCormick sprinted in a two-yard touchdown.

Then, early in the fourth quarter, second-year Raiders cornerback Sam Webb picked off veteran quarterback Brandon Allen near midfield and returned the interception to the 2-yard line. Garbers then threw a screen to McCormick for a two-yard touchdown for the games' final points.

White and McCormick didn't break any long runs, but they were tough and steady with a combined 22 carries for 60 yards.

“Hitting is my thing so that felt pretty good,” White said. “We could have done better, but we’ll go watch some film and see where it goes.”

The Raiders’ other scoring, aside from the four touchdowns, came from Pro Bowl kicker Daniel Carlson, who knocked through field goals of 46 and 53 yards.

O’Connell came into the game third on the Raiders’ depth chart behind Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer, neither of whom are expected to see action in the preseason. Garoppolo is the sure starter once the regular season begins, but he’s only played one full season without injury.

Many fans have wondered whom the Raiders would turn to if Garoppolo went down. Hoyer remains the favorite for the job while O’Connell uses this year to develop but the former is 37 years old and hasn’t won a game in which he’s started since 2016.

O’Connell, at the very least, might be the more exciting option.

“I’m just trying to do my job the best I can,” he said. “There’s more responsibility I have at the line of scrimmage here than I had at Purdue. There’s no space for complacency or not being locked in. You have to be locked in order to succeed so I’m trying to be locked in every play.”

Las Vegas is now 5-0 in the preseason in two years under current coach Josh McDaniels. The Raiders’ final two preseason games this season are on the road, at the Los Angeles Rams on Saturday and at the Dallas Cowboys Aug 26.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or