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With McCown and Culpepper nursing injuries Russell in shape to go
By Jeremy Harness November 30, 2007 |
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Josh McCown has two pinkie joints that have the bone showing through the skin after playing catch with fourth stringer quarterback Andrew Walter. Although McCown was not listed as of Friday on the Raiders injury report McCown will more than likely take a pass on Sunday's game with the Denver Broncos Daunte Culpepper also is nursing a sore right quad which was in pain on Wednesday night which might either give him limited duty this coming Sunday or coach Lane Kiffin might bench him and start JaMarcus Russell the much anticipated rookie from Alabama obtained in the NFL draft as the league's number one pick. Russell who has not took one snap all year and held out all of pre season has been sitting through the torment of the Raiders six game loss streak which was snapped last Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs. If it had not been for the Culpepper win on Sunday Russell could have been named the starter by now. The Raiders have taken a lot of criticism for not playing Russell this season. The point that he's the number draft pick sitting on the bench during a long losing spell. The fact that he's been healthy and taking snaps and looking good in practice and the Raiders are paying through the roof to keep him on the roster is another head scratcher. Culpepper said that he's hurting and that he couldn't even take snaps with the first team on Friday and Russell was taking snaps from the first team and if Culpepper's right thigh is still too tender to run and play on Sunday then Russell will get the call. As of now Coach Kiffin has listed Russell in the number two spot for back up quarterback on Sunday and is planning on Culpepper to be well enough to start. "I don't anticipate (Culpepper) being out but if he was, then we'll figure it out then, it was bothering him so were safe with him," said Kiffin. Kiffin had stated before that Russell would get into a home game debut and this coming Sunday is a strong possibility that Russell will either start or get penciled in depending on how Culpepper performs and feels during the game. If Culpepper comes out firing and the Raiders can hold water then Culpepper stays if not maybe the Raiders will see what Russell can do to seal the deal in a ball game. Culpepper was trying to remember if the injury came against the Chiefs last Sunday. Knowing he's coming off a fresh injury he knows not to push it and Culpepper feels he can start the ball game on Sunday, "I'm a guy who always has aches and pains, but I never really make a big deal if I can still go. I'm being cautious and don't want to aggravate it any more. I don't need to push it." said Culpepper. So it remains to be seen how Culpepper feels and performs. Kiffin will look to see if he can keep Oakland above water and that if Culpepper can lead the team like he did last week in Kansas City or if he'll go bust like he did the week before in Minnesota. Game sold out: Since the Oakland Raiders disbanded the Oakland Football Marketing Association and took control of their ticket operations in 1997 sales seems to be on the upswing at least this season any way as the Raiders announced their fifth sold out game out the last six home games. The Raiders made it under the wire for sold out ball games to be televised locally after the team just announced being sold out on Thursday afternoon. Kiffin in denial over Arkansas: Lane Kiffin at practice said that he covered talking about the Arkansas rumor deal and said he didn't know anything about any offer from the school and that he had to get ready for Denver. It was widely reported that Kiffin and Arkansas had talked and both parties expressed interest in each other in terms of working together for next season. Kiffin is signed on with the Raiders for five years with four left after this season. "I covered that Wednesday, I don't know anything about that and we'll get ready for Denver" said Kiffin. The Raiders host the Denver Broncos at the Coliseum on Sunday afternoon with a 1:15PM kickoff. Jeremy Harness co-hosts Sportstalk on 1690 KFSG Sacramento. quote source: KTVU Fox 2 Oakland |
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