Raiders Veteran's Time in Vegas 'Should Be Coming to a Close'

As NFL rosters shrink from 90 to 53 on cutdown day, the Las Vegas Raiders may face a tight quarterback crunch. The article frames Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza as near locks to make the active roster, while Aidan O’Connell—who has started 17 career games and thrown 20 touchdowns against 11 interceptions—might be squeezed out. O’Connell could be a valuable backup, potentially long-term behind Mendoza, but he becomes a free agent after the season and may prefer playing time. NFL.com’s Kevin Patra suggests O’Connell’s time in Las Vegas is likely ending, with a trade as a possible solution. Separately, The Athletic’s Dave Helman argues Mendoza needs a clear shot as Week 1 approaches, while rookie Roman Hemby praised Mendoza’s leadership.