Aidan O’Connell Sparks Raiders’ 22-20 Comeback Over Texans With 14-Second TD

Q: Will Bo Nix's surgically repaired ankle hold up under live defensive pressure during his anticipated return?

Probably, but Friday’s preseason return is the real test. Everything Denver has said and shown points to Bo Nix being physically ready. He has returned to practice as a full participant, said he feels “normal” and “full go,” and Sean Payton has said his mobility should be “completely clean.” Multiple camp reports describe Nix moving well, rolling out, planting off the repaired right ankle and throwing accurately on the move, which matters because his escapability is a core part of his game. There is also a meaningful medical backdrop. Nix’s broken ankle required surgery after the playoff injury and a second spring procedure to address bone spurs. That raises a reasonable question about how the joint responds not in drills, but when defenders are closing, bodies are around his feet and he has to absorb or avoid contact in real time. Denver appears aware of that distinction, which is why the team has been cautious and is limiting him to roughly 14 snaps against Green Bay. So the best answer is that the signs are encouraging, but not fully proven yet. Practice has eased concerns about his movement and confidence, and neither Nix nor Payton is signaling any planned restriction to his style. Still, live defensive pressure is the final checkpoint. If he can move, reset and take at least one hit without hesitation or visible limitation, that will be the strongest evidence that the ankle is holding up as Denver hopes.

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 21

1:37 from his own 4-yard line, O’Connell erased a 20-16 deficit by completing five straight passes, hitting Brandon Johnson for 33 yards and plunging in with 14 seconds left.
Mendoza’s first preseason start was rougher: he went 8-for-15 for 86 yards with a 42.6 rating, and Wade Woodaz turned his first-drive interception into an 80-yard pick-six.
Las Vegas still found offensive positives as rookie Mike Washington Jr. ran for a game-high 56 yards on nine carries, strengthening his case for a regular-season role.
The Raiders’ defense remained uneven against the run after allowing Woody Marks a 20-yard touchdown on Houston’s opening drive, though the secondary looked steadier and Devin Lafayette sealed the win with a late interception.
For Las Vegas, the game sharpened two roster questions ahead of the season: how quickly Mendoza develops behind Kirk Cousins, and whether O’Connell’s late command keeps him in the quarterback picture.