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Healthy Russell finally might get his opportunity to play
(11-29) 21:14 PST Alameda -- Daunte Culpepper woke up with a sore quad, Josh McCown dislocated two pinkie joints and JaMarcus Russell is as healthy as can be.
Put it all together, and that puts Russell closer than ever to making his NFL debut Sunday against the visiting Broncos at a sold-out Coliseum.
"I'm ready for whatever," said Russell, the No. 1 overall draft pick and Raiders future in waiting. "Had some fun out there today, got a chance to fly around a little bit ... just continue to prepare myself."
Culpepper was limited in practice Thursday after waking up with a pain in his right thigh Wednesday night. He said the limited participation was a precautionary move, and Raiders coach Lane Kiffin declined to speculate on a quarterback pecking order until at least today.
"I don't anticipate (Culpepper) being out but if he was, then we'll figure it out then," Kiffin said. "It was bothering him so we were safe with him."
McCown and Russell shared snaps Thursday, with McCown getting more of the practice time despite an injured pinkie on his nonthrowing left hand. He was hurt catching an Andrew Walter pass at practice Wednesday - enough so that a bone was protruding out of his skin - but has not been listed on the injury report.
Kiffin normally announces his quarterback order on Fridays. If Culpepper is well enough to start, Kiffin could use McCown's injury as a reason to elevate Russell to No. 2 quarterback, a move Kiffin said could lead to his rookie quarterback playing for the first time.
"As far as JaMarcus, we're still looking at some things with him," Kiffin said. "He took some reps today and did well. He moved around well and did some things well and jumped right in there."
Kiffin has said Russell will probably be eased into his initial playing time, as opposed to starting right away. He also said the debut will most likely come in a home game, which makes Sunday a strong possibility.
Frankly, Russell may have been starting by now if not for Culpepper's steady improvement.
In the past two games, Culpepper has completed 38 of 61 passes (62 percent) for 514 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In his previous five games, he was a 56-percent passer with four interceptions.
Culpepper isn't sure, but he thinks the injury happened after a hit in Sunday's 20-17 victory against the Chiefs.
"I'm a guy who always has aches and pains, but I never really make a big deal if I still can go," Culpepper said. "I'm being cautious and don't want to aggravate it any more. I don't need to push it."
Russell has been cramming ever since ending his contract holdout three days after the Sept. 11 season opener. He's worked daily with the scout team and comes in on days off for a personal workout and study time.
Kiffin has made him the No. 3 emergency quarterback all season, saying Russell wasn't ready to play after missing all of training camp.
McCown and Culpepper both know Russell will play eventually, if only to justify his rookie-record contract. They each suspect it will happen this season - especially with the last-place Raiders (3-8) teetering on the edge of official playoff elimination, three games behind the Chargers with five games to play.
"People always say better late than never," Russell said. "It's a matter of time before anything happens. Right now, I'm just playing a role for the team."
Live on TV: Sunday's game is a sellout, team officials said Thursday, which means it will be televised locally.
The Raiders have sold out five of six home games this season after selling out six of eight last year, the first year the team controlled ticket operations since returning to Oakland in 1997.
Kiffin on Arkansas: Kiffin attempted to end the national rumors that have him potentially taking the Arkansas head coaching job.
"I covered that (Wednesday)," Kiffin said. "I don't know anything about that and we'll get ready for Denver."
ESPN reported Thursday there was mutual interest between Kiffin and Arkansas, where his father, Monte, once worked as an assistant. Asked if this was a distraction, Kiffin said, "We don't even talk about it. It's stuff for you guys to write about."
The interview ended with this exchange.
Reporter: "So we're clear, you have no interest in the Arkansas job?"
Kiffin: "Yeah."
He then jogged away without taking further questions for the second straight day.
E-mail David White at dwhite@sfchronicle.com.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/30/SP1FTLE6J.DTL
(11-29) 21:14 PST Alameda -- Daunte Culpepper woke up with a sore quad, Josh McCown dislocated two pinkie joints and JaMarcus Russell is as healthy as can be.
Put it all together, and that puts Russell closer than ever to making his NFL debut Sunday against the visiting Broncos at a sold-out Coliseum.
"I'm ready for whatever," said Russell, the No. 1 overall draft pick and Raiders future in waiting. "Had some fun out there today, got a chance to fly around a little bit ... just continue to prepare myself."
Culpepper was limited in practice Thursday after waking up with a pain in his right thigh Wednesday night. He said the limited participation was a precautionary move, and Raiders coach Lane Kiffin declined to speculate on a quarterback pecking order until at least today.
"I don't anticipate (Culpepper) being out but if he was, then we'll figure it out then," Kiffin said. "It was bothering him so we were safe with him."
McCown and Russell shared snaps Thursday, with McCown getting more of the practice time despite an injured pinkie on his nonthrowing left hand. He was hurt catching an Andrew Walter pass at practice Wednesday - enough so that a bone was protruding out of his skin - but has not been listed on the injury report.
Kiffin normally announces his quarterback order on Fridays. If Culpepper is well enough to start, Kiffin could use McCown's injury as a reason to elevate Russell to No. 2 quarterback, a move Kiffin said could lead to his rookie quarterback playing for the first time.
"As far as JaMarcus, we're still looking at some things with him," Kiffin said. "He took some reps today and did well. He moved around well and did some things well and jumped right in there."
Kiffin has said Russell will probably be eased into his initial playing time, as opposed to starting right away. He also said the debut will most likely come in a home game, which makes Sunday a strong possibility.
Frankly, Russell may have been starting by now if not for Culpepper's steady improvement.
In the past two games, Culpepper has completed 38 of 61 passes (62 percent) for 514 yards, one touchdown and one interception. In his previous five games, he was a 56-percent passer with four interceptions.
Culpepper isn't sure, but he thinks the injury happened after a hit in Sunday's 20-17 victory against the Chiefs.
"I'm a guy who always has aches and pains, but I never really make a big deal if I still can go," Culpepper said. "I'm being cautious and don't want to aggravate it any more. I don't need to push it."
Russell has been cramming ever since ending his contract holdout three days after the Sept. 11 season opener. He's worked daily with the scout team and comes in on days off for a personal workout and study time.
Kiffin has made him the No. 3 emergency quarterback all season, saying Russell wasn't ready to play after missing all of training camp.
McCown and Culpepper both know Russell will play eventually, if only to justify his rookie-record contract. They each suspect it will happen this season - especially with the last-place Raiders (3-8) teetering on the edge of official playoff elimination, three games behind the Chargers with five games to play.
"People always say better late than never," Russell said. "It's a matter of time before anything happens. Right now, I'm just playing a role for the team."
Live on TV: Sunday's game is a sellout, team officials said Thursday, which means it will be televised locally.
The Raiders have sold out five of six home games this season after selling out six of eight last year, the first year the team controlled ticket operations since returning to Oakland in 1997.
Kiffin on Arkansas: Kiffin attempted to end the national rumors that have him potentially taking the Arkansas head coaching job.
"I covered that (Wednesday)," Kiffin said. "I don't know anything about that and we'll get ready for Denver."
ESPN reported Thursday there was mutual interest between Kiffin and Arkansas, where his father, Monte, once worked as an assistant. Asked if this was a distraction, Kiffin said, "We don't even talk about it. It's stuff for you guys to write about."
The interview ended with this exchange.
Reporter: "So we're clear, you have no interest in the Arkansas job?"
Kiffin: "Yeah."
He then jogged away without taking further questions for the second straight day.
E-mail David White at dwhite@sfchronicle.com.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/11/30/SP1FTLE6J.DTL
