By Tashan Reed, Vic Tafur and Nando Di Fino
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, who missed his team’s Week 7 game against the Chicago Bears due to a back injury, will start versus the Detroit Lions on Monday, coach Josh McDaniels said. Here’s what you need to know:
- Garoppolo sustained the injury in the second quarter of Las Vegas’ Week 6 win over the New England Patriots. He was taken to the hospital out of fear of internal injuries after exiting the game.
- The Raiders were 0-2 with backups Aidan O’Connell and Brian Hoyer in the two games that Garoppolo missed with a concussion and back injury.
- Garoppolo has appeared in five games this season, completing 68 percent of his passing attempts for 1,079 yards, seven touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Significance of Garoppolo’s return
Since Garoppolo went down with a back injury in the first half of the Raiders’ Week 6 win over the Patriots, Las Vegas turned to Hoyer at quarterback. As could be expected, it didn’t go well. Hoyer was awful in an embarrassing loss to the Bears last week and clearly can’t be depended upon. While Garoppolo has been underwhelming this season, he still provides a significant upgrade over Hoyer. The Raiders remain sizable underdogs going against the Lions on Monday, but they’d have absolutely no shot without Garoppolo. — Tashan Reed, Raiders writer
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Does this come as a surprise?
Garoppolo said he felt fine Thursday and has practiced fully the last couple of days, so McDaniels’ announcement was expected. Garoppolo has been erratic this season, but he gives the team a jolt with his experience and leadership. — Vic Tafur, Raiders writer
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What Vegas needs from its QB
When it comes to expectations for Garoppolo, the Raiders need him to be more aggressive while also taking better care of the football. He’s somehow been one of the most conservative quarterbacks in the league in terms of average depth of throw while also throwing eight interceptions in just 4 1/2 games of action. For the Raiders’ struggling offense to turn it around, Garoppolo has to play much better. — Reed
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Fantasy impact
Garoppolo will have more of a “real world” impact than a fantasy one. He’s not starting for your 1QB team with nobody on bye this week, while he’s definitely starting for you in a 2QB or SuperFlex format. Don’t expect too much, and also don’t expect a lot of excitement.
Garoppolo falls in that weird fantasy middle ground that doesn’t require much thought or hand-wringing. — Nando Di Fino, Fantasy/Betting managing editor
What they’re saying
“Having Jimmy, somebody that’s had the most experience with this offense of any of the other quarterbacks, definitely does something for us and definitely excited to have him back in the lineup,” receiver Davante Adams said Thursday. “We’re going to go out there and try to make the most of every opportunity we get.”
Required reading
(Photo: Chris Unger / Getty)
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