Published on: September 26, 2023, 10:06h.
Last updated on: September 26, 2023, 10:06h.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has entered the NFL’s concussion protocol following a head injury sustained during Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Steelers emerged victorious in Sin City, defeating the Raiders 23-18 during Sunday Night Football.
If you had “Week 3 concussion” on your Jimmy G injury bingo card, congratulations. Although Garoppolo boasted an impressive record of 38-17 as a starting quarterback with the San Francisco 49ers, concerns over his durability remained.
In the offseason, the Raiders took a gamble by signing Garoppolo and allowing quarterback Derek Carr to depart in free agency. Garoppolo reunited with head coach Josh McDaniels, who was previously on Bill Belichick’s staff as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the New England Patriots when Garoppolo was drafted in 2014.
So far this season, Garoppolo and the Raiders have a record of 1-2, winning their first game but losing the next two.
Garoppolo’s Injury and Concussion
In a loss to the Steelers, Garoppolo completed 28-of-44 passes for 324 yards, throwing two touchdowns to Davante Adams. He also threw three interceptions and was sacked four times.
Garoppolo played the entire game, and the Raiders did not specify when he sustained the head injury and concussion.
“I’m not even sure what hit or if it was just an accumulation, I have no idea,” said McDaniels. “There was never a conversation about that, so I’m not sure, so I’m not exactly sure when it took place, or if it was just a culmination of things.”
Replays indicate that Garoppolo suffered a concussion midway through the fourth quarter when he was drilled by Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and his helmet slammed into the turf at Allegiant Stadium.
Despite the impact, Garoppolo managed to throw a touchdown pass to Adams just two plays later and successfully completed an ensuing two-point conversion.
This season, Garoppolo has completed 68.1% of his passes for 709 yards and five touchdowns. However, he leads the NFL in interceptions with six. His overall passer rating is 81.4, with a 51.9 QBR according to ESPN’s adjusted quarterback rating.
Next Man Up: Brian Hoyer or Aidan O’Connell
In Week 4, the Raiders will face the Los Angeles Chargers in an AFC West divisional game in Los Angeles. If Garoppolo fails to clear concussion protocol, veteran quarterback Brian Hoyer, aged 37, will step in as the next man up. Rookie Aidan O’Connell currently serves as the third-string quarterback for the Raiders.
Hoyer spent over half of his career, a total of eight seasons, as Tom Brady’s backup in New England. He nearly retired last season but was persuaded by McDaniels to join the Raiders as Garoppolo’s backup. Hoyer has started 40 games throughout his career, including a full season with the Cleveland Browns, and holds a 16-24 record as a starting quarterback.
“We’ll prepare for everybody,” said McDaniels. “Obviously, that would change things relative to Aidan if Jimmy was not able to progress through the protocol to be able to play. We’ll have to manage that situation as best we can as the week progresses.”
The Raiders selected O’Connell in the fourth round of the draft from Purdue. O’Connell, known for his relentless attitude, hails from the Chicago suburbs. Despite not being scouted in high school and receiving no scholarship offers from Division I programs, he played in Division II for one season before becoming a walk-on at Purdue. Eventually, he earned a scholarship and started 28 games for the Boilermakers, recording a 17-11 record as a starter and throwing 65 touchdowns.
Betting on the Raiders in Week 4
The Raiders always attract a large crowd on the road, particularly in their former home of Los Angeles. Oddsmakers have already taken this into account, along with the minimal home-field advantage for the Chargers. There will likely be more fans in attendance wearing black and silver jerseys than cheering for the Chargers.
The Chargers initially opened as a 4.5-point favorite, but the line shifted to -5.5 following the news of Garoppolo’s concussion protocol. Both the Raiders and Chargers have a 1-2 record this season and are 1-2 against the spread.
In Week 4, the short-handed Chargers will be without two key starters. Running back Austin Ekeler is nursing a sprained ankle, while wide receiver Mike Williams tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.
Oddsmakers set the Raiders’ win total at 6.5 over/under in the preseason, projecting them to finish last in the fiercely competitive AFC West division.
The Kansas City Chiefs (2-1) are the clear favorites to win the AFC West with odds of -300. The Chargers trail behind at +350, followed by the Raiders at +1100, and the winless Denver Broncos at +3000.
The Raiders have +370 odds to make the playoffs and -500 odds to miss the postseason. They are among the eight lowest-ranked teams on DraftKings’ NFL futures board with +10000 odds to win Super Bowl LVIII.