Aidan O’Connell, quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, was sidelined for the game against the Atlanta Falcons due to a knee injury sustained earlier in the season. This opened the door for Desmond Ridder to start, who previously played for the Falcons before being traded to the Arizona Cardinals and later signed by the Raiders.

Ridder, having served as a backup in previous games, expressed his eagerness to showcase his skills. O’Connell has faced multiple challenges this season, including a broken thumb and a recent knee bruise, impacting his availability and performance.