by Matt Kawahara
mkawahara@sacbee.com
NAPA -- Stefen Wisniewski likely won't play against Detroit on Saturday, Raiders head coach Dennis Allen said today, meaning Alex Parsons will get another start at center and Wisniewski will have only one more shot at seeing live action before the season starts.
Wisniewski is still battling a calf injury and hasn't practiced since leaving the preseason opener Aug. 13 after the Raiders' first series. Allen has stressed that Wisniewski, who also missed OTAs and mini-camp while recovering from shoulder surgery, needs practice in order to be ready for the season opener Sept. 10.
"If we weren't in the regular season could he push through and play?" Allen said. "Probably. Maybe. I don't know. We're not going to take that chance right now in a preseason game."
Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp was asked today how he would feel about going forward with Parsons at center if Wisniewski's injury persists, and said he would be comfortable with it because the position has been an open competition since the spring.
"Even when Wiz wasn't practicing in the spring, it was a competition to start because Wiz played guard before and hadn't played center," Knapp said. "So I'm comfortable because from day one we've treated it as a competition. Both guys are into it mentally, it's just been unfortunate that Wiz hasn't had as many reps."
* Defensive tackle Richard Seymour hasn't practiced at all this week, but Allen said it isn't due to injury or a cause for alarm. Seymour, who is going into his 12th NFL season, "pushed real hard early in camp," so the Raiders are making sure they don't overtax him before the season, Allen said.
As for who determines when Seymour will get a day off, Allen said, "We work together on that. Guys have only got so many shots, and when a guy gets more age on him, you have to be careful as far as how much you use him. The deal is we have to get him enough work to get him ready to play but yet have him ready to play so we can have him for a full 16 games this year."
* Backup quarterback Matt Leinart is healthy enough to play Saturday but will be a game-time decision, Allen said. Leinart received two stitches to close a cut on his right index finger resulting from a late hit by Cardinals tackle Ricky Lumpkin on Friday.
* Tight end Richard Gordon left practice early with sore ribs carrying over from Friday.
Also not practicing were linebacker Aaron Curry (knee), receivers Jacoby Ford (foot) and Denarius Moore (hamstring), defensive tackle Jamie Cumbie (foot), offensive tackle Zach Hurd (head), fullback Rashawn Jackson (hip), offensive lineman Ed Wang (shoulder), and Wisniewski (calf).
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