Raiders quarterback Brian Hoyer to start against the Bears for a crucial game on Sunday.
According to multiple reports, Hoyer will be given the starting role in Chicago due to Jimmy Garoppolo’s injury. Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels has not confirmed whether Hoyer or rookie Aidan O’Connell will be the replacement for Garoppolo.
In the Raiders’ Week Four game against the Chargers, O’Connell started in place of the injured Garoppolo. However, Hoyer has since surpassed O’Connell in the depth chart. When Garoppolo had to exit last week’s game against the Patriots, McDaniels trusted Hoyer to step in. Hoyer performed well in his limited playing time, solidifying McDaniels’ belief that Hoyer offers the best chance of winning.
While starting O’Connell, the rookie, would make sense for building a future-oriented Raiders team, McDaniels is focusing on winning in the present. The Bears, who will have rookie quarterback Tyson Bagent replacing the injured Justin Fields, present a beatable opponent.
For Hoyer, this will mark his first start as a Raider and his 41st start in his career, spread across eight different teams. Hoyer has previously started games for the Cardinals, Browns, Texans, Bears, 49ers, Colts, and Patriots.
