Raiders QB Russell Has Tendinitis In Knee
Raiders Team Page
OAKLAND (AP) ― Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was unable to finish practice Thursday because of tendinitis in his right knee. He is expected to play Sunday against Carolina.
Russell took most of the reps with the first-team offense but was held out of the final eight plays after complaining of soreness in his knee.
"It's more precautionary than anything else," interim coach Tom Cable said. "We kind of did it just to hold him back. He did a great (job) today so the last eight reps weren't going to matter."
Russell, who injured his left ankle in the third quarter of last week's 24-0 loss to Atlanta, was unavailable for comment. He walked through the Raiders' locker room wearing an ice bag around his right knee and holding an electrical stimulation device that was connected to his knee.
Backup quarterback Andrew Walter finished practice in place of Russell but was also limited due to a lingering calf strain.
Oakland could also be without rookie running back Darren McFadden for a third straight game. McFadden has been sidelined with turf toe injuries in both feet, though it is his left foot that is causing the Raiders' first-round draft pick the most concern.
McFadden was fitted for a new pair of cleats in hopes of easing the pain in his foot, which still requires him to wear a protective boot when not practicing.
"I don't know," McFadden said about his prospect of playing against the Panthers. "We still haven't got that far yet."
The Raiders (2-6) could use a healthy McFadden back in the lineup. Starter Justin Fargas left the locker room Thursday wearing a long, black brace on his left wrist and forearm, though he was not listed on the team's injury report.
Oakland is also trying to find a spark for an offense that gained just 77 yards in the loss to the Falcons and has been outscored 100-29 in the four games since owner Al Davis fired coach Lane Kiffin.
The Raiders are ranked 29th in total offense and last in scoring with only nine touchdowns. By comparison, Tennessee's LenDale White leads the NFL with 10 touchdowns.
McFadden, the fourth overall pick last April, set an Oakland rookie record when he rushed for 164 yards in a Week 2 win over Kansas City. McFadden sustained a turf toe injury in his right foot during that game and has been struggling to stay healthy since.
After gaining 210 yards and averaging 7.0 yards a carry through the first two weeks of the season, McFadden was held to 131 yards and a 3.5 yard average over a four-game stretch before sitting out the Raiders' last two games.
"Right now it's just going out there, see how it feels, talk to the coaching staff and everybody getting together and coming up with what we should do," McFadden said. "It felt pretty good. For me right now, (it's) starting to get the confidence back in my foot and not being scared to cut off it."
Cable hopes to make a decision about McFadden's status Friday.
"He looked pretty good yesterday and today he kind of looked the same," Cable said. "It's not gotten a lot better but it's not bad. It's just whether or not it's good to go."
McFadden is hoping the change of shoes will help improve his status.
"They've got a steel bottom in them ... they don't bend at all," McFadden said. "It felt pretty good out there, but the main thing is building the confidence back up in my foot and trusting. Once I build my confidence back up in my foot I think I'll be all right."
Notes
Cable announced that veteran OL Kwame Harris will start at left tackle and split time with second-year player Mario Henderson. ... S Michael Huff was added to the injury list after bruising a hip in practice earlier in the week. Huff did not practice Thursday and his status is uncertain for Sunday's game.
(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
Raiders Team Page
OAKLAND (AP) ― Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was unable to finish practice Thursday because of tendinitis in his right knee. He is expected to play Sunday against Carolina.
Russell took most of the reps with the first-team offense but was held out of the final eight plays after complaining of soreness in his knee.
"It's more precautionary than anything else," interim coach Tom Cable said. "We kind of did it just to hold him back. He did a great (job) today so the last eight reps weren't going to matter."
Russell, who injured his left ankle in the third quarter of last week's 24-0 loss to Atlanta, was unavailable for comment. He walked through the Raiders' locker room wearing an ice bag around his right knee and holding an electrical stimulation device that was connected to his knee.
Backup quarterback Andrew Walter finished practice in place of Russell but was also limited due to a lingering calf strain.
Oakland could also be without rookie running back Darren McFadden for a third straight game. McFadden has been sidelined with turf toe injuries in both feet, though it is his left foot that is causing the Raiders' first-round draft pick the most concern.
McFadden was fitted for a new pair of cleats in hopes of easing the pain in his foot, which still requires him to wear a protective boot when not practicing.
"I don't know," McFadden said about his prospect of playing against the Panthers. "We still haven't got that far yet."
The Raiders (2-6) could use a healthy McFadden back in the lineup. Starter Justin Fargas left the locker room Thursday wearing a long, black brace on his left wrist and forearm, though he was not listed on the team's injury report.
Oakland is also trying to find a spark for an offense that gained just 77 yards in the loss to the Falcons and has been outscored 100-29 in the four games since owner Al Davis fired coach Lane Kiffin.
The Raiders are ranked 29th in total offense and last in scoring with only nine touchdowns. By comparison, Tennessee's LenDale White leads the NFL with 10 touchdowns.
McFadden, the fourth overall pick last April, set an Oakland rookie record when he rushed for 164 yards in a Week 2 win over Kansas City. McFadden sustained a turf toe injury in his right foot during that game and has been struggling to stay healthy since.
After gaining 210 yards and averaging 7.0 yards a carry through the first two weeks of the season, McFadden was held to 131 yards and a 3.5 yard average over a four-game stretch before sitting out the Raiders' last two games.
"Right now it's just going out there, see how it feels, talk to the coaching staff and everybody getting together and coming up with what we should do," McFadden said. "It felt pretty good. For me right now, (it's) starting to get the confidence back in my foot and not being scared to cut off it."
Cable hopes to make a decision about McFadden's status Friday.
"He looked pretty good yesterday and today he kind of looked the same," Cable said. "It's not gotten a lot better but it's not bad. It's just whether or not it's good to go."
McFadden is hoping the change of shoes will help improve his status.
"They've got a steel bottom in them ... they don't bend at all," McFadden said. "It felt pretty good out there, but the main thing is building the confidence back up in my foot and trusting. Once I build my confidence back up in my foot I think I'll be all right."
Notes
Cable announced that veteran OL Kwame Harris will start at left tackle and split time with second-year player Mario Henderson. ... S Michael Huff was added to the injury list after bruising a hip in practice earlier in the week. Huff did not practice Thursday and his status is uncertain for Sunday's game.(© 2008 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
