The Raiders are hopeful that O’Connell (thumb) will be ready to return from injured reserve to start their Week 13 game against the Chiefs on Friday, The Athletic’s Tashan Reed reports.

O’Connell opened the season as the Raiders’ No. 2 quarterback, but after replacing the ailing Gardner Minshew in Weeks 3 and 5, the second-year signal caller took over as Las Vegas’ starter in Week 6. He made just two starts before suffering a broken right thumb in Week 7, resulting in his move to IR. While recovering over the past five weeks, O’Connell appears to be making good progress, with head coach Antonio Pierce noting Sunday that O’Connell was able to do some throwing this past week. Assuming the Raiders open O’Connell’s 21-day evaluation period this week, he will get a chance to step back as Las Vegas’ starter after Minshew suffered a season-ending broken collarbone in the Week 12 loss to the Broncos. Desmond Ridder finished that game under center and would be the top candidate to start in Kansas City if the Raiders aren’t comfortable with O’Connell stepping back into the lineup in a short week.