For the past decade, the NFL has made a deliberate effort to protect quarterbacks. And if anything, officials tend to err on the side of the quarterback even if the contact is questionable.
That’s what made Sunday’s missed roughing the passer no-call on the Buccaneers’ Calijah Kancey so surprising. And it led to Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell suffering an apparent serious injury.
With O’Connell rolling out of the pocket in Las Vegas’ Week 14 game against the Bucs, he was able to get the ball away with Kancey in pursuit. Kancey — with time to let up — continued on to shove O’Connell in the back.
Gene Steratore says Calijah Kancey should have been flagged for an obvious roughing the passer penalty. Tough look for the Bucs.
Aiden O’Connell was carted off after this hit. Desmond Ridder is in at QB. pic.twitter.com/NUtndxHFrS
— The Pewter Plank (@ThePewterPlank) December 8, 2024
O’Connell planted awkwardly on the play and suffered the injury. And given how late the hit was, the officials absolutely should have penalized Kancey there.
O’Connell was carted off with an air cast on his leg, and third-string quarterback Desmond Ridder finished the day in the Raiders’ 28-13 loss.
