The Las Vegas Raiders pivoted to Aidan O’Connell as their starting quarterback earlier this season, and while he has struggled, wide receiver Davante Adams has hope for him.
When asked about O’Connell this week, Adams said he just wants to see him progress.
“I just want to see him play to the best of his abilities, and just trust himself, and do what he’s been doing, and do the things that [he was] when he had a real great rhythm in the preseason,” Adams said, via Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk. “Just kind of remind himself of what he can do and just keep building.”
In six appearances and five starts this year, O’Connell has thrown for 1,194 yards, four touchdowns and six interceptions while completing 63.5 percent of his passes and posting a passer rating of 76.4.
Most recently, O’Connell put forth a solid effort, going 23-for-33 with 248 yards and a touchdown in a Week 12 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs (Las Vegas had a bye in Week 13).
Adams wants the rookie signal-caller to know that he should feel entirely secure in his surroundings.
“It’s no pressure from any of us and we love him and we’re supporting him through every step of the way,” he said. “I just want him to be him and be comfortable out there.”
O’Connell, who played his collegiate football at Purdue, was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the NFL Draft back in the spring.
He created a whole lot of buzz for his impressive showing in preseason, but Las Vegas went into the season with Jimmy Garoppolo under center.
However, injuries and underwhelming performance forced Garoppolo out of the lineup. The Raiders experimented with Brian Hoyer, much to the fans’ chagrin. Fortunately for the Vegas faithful, the Raiders ultimately decided to hand the reins to O’Connell.
Las Vegas is currently 5-7 and has lost two games in a row, which has made earning a playoff berth exceedingly difficult with just five contests remaining.
The Raiders will battle the Minnesota Vikings this Sunday.
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