Two of the preseason standouts from the rookie class saw their first NFL starting action on Sunday. Day 3 selection quarterbacks Aidan O’Connell and Dorian Thompson-Robinson were thrust into the starting lineups due to injuries.
O’Connell, a fourth-round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, filled in for Jimmy Garoppolo, who was out with a brain injury. The rookie from Purdue had an up-and-down day, completing 24-of-39 passes for 238 yards. He impressively led a Raiders comeback late, shaking off a spotty first half where he lost two fumbles. He avoided mistakes throwing until the final drive, when a red zone INT effectively ended Las Vegas’ 24-17 loss to the Chargers.
In Cleveland, Thompson-Robinson was a surprise starter for an injured Deshaun Watson. A fifth-rounder from UCLA who tore it up in the preseason, “DTR” did not have a good go of it against Baltimore.
The rookie threw for just 121 net yards, completing 19 of his 36 pass attempts in a 28-3 loss to the visiting Ravens. Thompson-Robinson struggled badly to handle the pass rush and tossed three interceptions, though one of those came on the game’s final play.
Day 3 rookies aren’t typically expected to play at quarterback, let alone start in emergency duty. For O’Connell and Thompson-Robinson, the debuts were inauspicious learning experiences.