ALAMEDA – Another game, another quarterback question for the Raiders.
Josh McCown wasn’t at practice this morning. He injured his right thigh against the Chicago Bears, prompting him to jokingly ask if anyone wanted to “trade quads” with him on Monday.
If Lane Kiffin needed an excuse to play JaMarcus Russell, he’d have one if McCown were out.
If Russell is the second quarterback, Kiffin could play Russell for a couple of series a half and make Andrew Walter the inactive third quarterback.
Not wanting to make Russell No. 2 is the reason that hasn’t happened earlier. With NFL rules mandating the third quarterback can only play in the fourth quarter or if the other two are down, Kiffin didn’t want to be in position to have to play Russell yet.
None of this will matter if McCown overcomes his latest injury enough for Kiffin to give him the start in Minnesota.
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Daunte Culpepper is the logical starter if McCown is out. And it’s a perfect storyline, with him going back to Minnesota, where he was a three-time Pro Bowl selection.
Vikings defensive tackle Pat Williams said Culpepper still looked “hesitant” and isn’t where he was before his knee injury in 2005, when they were teammates.
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Cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha (knee) and Fabian Washington (calf) were back at practice. Safety Hiram Eugene wasn’t practicing with an undisclosed injury. Backup center Jake Grove (knee) practiced while Jeremy Newberry took his usual day off.
--Jason Jones








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