USATSI
The Las Vegas Raiders will be without their starting quarterback this weekend. CBS Sports Lead NFL Insider Jonathan Jones confirmed reports that Jimmy Garoppolo has been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Chicago Bears due to the back injury he sustained last week.
Garoppolo was taken to the hospital after suffering the injury late in the second quarter against the New England Patriots, but head coach Josh McDaniels said earlier this week that the quarterback had “dodged a big bullet” with the injury. McDaniels did indicate that Garoppolo’s status for Week 7 was uncertain, but said that “the prognosis is a lot better than it otherwise might have been.”
Still, it now appears that Garoppolo will miss his second start of the season. He previously missed the team’s Week 4 loss against the division rival Los Angeles Chargers due to a concussion. Rookie Aidan O’Connell filled in for Garoppolo in that game, completing 24 of 39 passes for 238 yards and an interception.
O’Connell has been inactive for the other five games this season, with veteran Brian Hoyer serving as Garoppolo’s backup. Hoyer stepped in for Garoppolo last week against New England and went 6 of 10 for 102 yards. When asked Friday who would be under center for his club on Sunday, head coach Josh McDaniels elected to keep the decision of Hoyer or O’Connell close to the vest.
“Both guys are having a good week practicing. We’ll see how today goes and then we’re just going to make the right decision,” McDaniels told reporters on Friday. “I think at the end of the day, both of them are going to be ready to go. I have confidence in both of them. The good thing, as we’ve talked…
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