Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O'Connell was inactive for Monday night's game against the Atlanta Falcons, clearing the way for Desmond Ridder to start against his former team. O'Connell bruised his left knee on Dec.

The Raiders had a long week to prepare for the Falcons and they took every bit of it to decide whether Aidan O'Connell would be able to go. Including working him out beforehand. But in the end, they opted to hold him out for the game.

For Ridder, the start comes against his old team, who drafted the Cincinnati product in the third round of the 2022 draft. He compiled an 8-9 record as a starter over two seasons in Atlanta before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals in March. Las Vegas signed Ridder off of Arizona’s practice squad in October.