By Paul Wexler

RaiderBeat.com Staff Writer

 

 

Raiders coach Tom Cable on Sunday echoed middle linebacker Kirk Morrison’s timetable for Morrison’s return from the dislocated left shoulder he sustained Saturday night against the 49ers.
So, as first reported, Morrison will be out for the next two weeks or so. Of course, that means Morrison should be back in time for the regular-season opener Sept. 14 against the San Diego Chargers at the Oakland Coliseum.
Cable also said that Morrison was slightly ahead of Ricky Brown in the battle for the starting job in the middle when the injury occurred on Oakland’s first defensive series.
So, it should be interesting to see if Morrison picks up where he left off when he was injured or if he is forced to play catch up once he returns.

 

Cable also said that for now JaMarcus Russell is his starting quarterback, in part because chief challenger Jeff Garcia hasn’t been healthy long enough to mount much of a challenge.
“I’m disappointed when any of them get hurt,” Cable said about Garcia missing so much time with a strained right calf. “I don’t like the injuries at all, but it’s part of the game. I just feel like (Russell) has improved, and it would have been nice to have someone really pushing him. Maybe we could get him to improve a little bit more.”
Garcia played only one set of downs against the 49ers. Russell played the rest of the first half. The starters are expected to play into the second half Saturday against the New Orleans Saints, so Garcia won’t get much of a chance to cut into Russell’s stranglehold on the job.

 

The competition for the No. 3 quarterback spot remains up for grabs after two games, Cable said.
Bruce Gradkowski and Charlie Frye have played well in Oakland’s first two games, without either one doing much to hurt his case.
“Well, they both did some good things again,” Cable said. “That’s a tough call. As I mentioned to you after the game last night, I felt like on one day it’s one guy, the next day it’s the next. It’s still a pretty good battle there. Charlie has stepped his game up, but Bruce has, as well. These next two games might decide it.”

 

Here’s Cable’s thoughts on the players who caught his eye against the 49ers.
“There’s some guys who we really had real good efforts out of. Desmond Bryant continues to get better at defensive tackle. William Joseph is starting to show up at defensive tackle. Tommy Kelly was much better from Week 1 to Week 2.
“The two corners – really, all three corners – did very well. Offensively, Zach Miller maybe showed up a little more. Again, JaMarcus missed two throws I would have liked him to have made. He’ll probably show up here or tomorrow and he’ll probably know that right away. Really, that’s about it off the top of my head. I’m please, obviously, withy Louis Murphy. He continues to get it done.”

 

Undrafted rookie Nick Miller didn’t help himself when he fumbled a punt late in the game against the 49ers. And Cable wasn’t cutting him much slack, either.
“I don’t think you really get the benefit of the doubt when you turn the ball over,” Cable said. “He’ll learn from it, and we’ll move forward.”

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