Aidan O'Connell announces his father's death as Brock Bowers stays limited

Aidan O'Connell said on Instagram that his father, Jim, has died. "It is with immense sadness that I share the passing of my Dad, Jim," the Raiders quarterback wrote. "My Dad was a gift to me and to so many others." The post, which leaned on his faith, drew replies from Maxx Crosby, Brock Bowers and Jack Bech, and it explains the absence the team had only described as personal. O'Connell has not practiced in a week and did not play at the Chargers, as the Review-Journal and Heavy reported.

The football consequence is narrow and worth stating plainly. O'Connell is down as did-not-participate for personal reasons on both Wednesday and Thursday, which leaves rookie Fernando Mendoza as the only quarterback behind Kirk Cousins again. Las Vegas has not added an arm. That is a bet on Cousins staying upright in a dome.

The rest of Thursday's report reads better than it did a day earlier. Darien Porter, Nakobe Dean, Folorunso Fatukasi and Dareke Young all went from limited to full. Bowers did not. He was limited again with the knee, two for two on the week, which is progress from missing time entirely but is not the same as clearance. Kwity Paye was a new name, sitting out with an illness after not appearing on Wednesday's report at all. Safety Treydan Stukes stayed out with a concussion.

New Orleans has its own list. Travis Etienne Jr. was limited both days with a hamstring, cornerback Martin Emerson Jr. and receiver Barion Brown did not practice, and Chase Young returned to full work. Davon Godchaux got a rest day and Kendre Miller was out sick.

The week's other thread is Jack Bech, who goes back to Louisiana for the first time as a pro. His older brother Tiger was killed in the New Year's Day 2025 attack on Bourbon Street. "It will be a little homecoming to rewrite a wrong and put a good taste in our mouth from New Orleans," Bech said, per News 3. Family and friends are expected at the Superdome.

The matchup itself is closer than 2-0 against 1-1 suggests. Tyler Shough has thrown for 662 yards, the most by a Saints quarterback to open a season since Drew Brees in 2009, and New Orleans ranks second in passing. The Raiders counter with the league's fifth-best scoring defense.

Watch Friday's final report for Bowers' game designation and whether Paye's illness clears. Kickoff is 1:25 p.m. Pacific on CBS.