NFL Notebook: Raiders bench QB Russell

By: JournalNow Staff | JOURNAL WIRE REPORT
Published: November 19, 2009

■ Raiders: Oakland is benching former No. 1 pick JaMarcus Russell, handing the starting job to Bruce Gradkowski.

Coach Tom Cable said after practice yesterday that Gradkowski will get the nod Sunday against Cincinnati.

This will be just the second start for Gradkowski since 2006. He started one game last year in Cleveland and 11 games as a rookie for Tampa Bay in 2006. Gradkowski is 17 for 30 for 163 yards and two interceptions.

Russell has completed just 46.8 percent of his passes this season. He has also thrown nine interceptions and lost five fumbles.

Also yesterday, the Raiders reached a tentative agreement with Alameda County officials to extend their lease at the Coliseum through the 2013 season. The Raiders' lease was set to expire after next season. The deal still must be formally approved by the Coliseum Authority, Alameda County, the city of Oakland and the NFL. That is expected to come by the end of the year.

■ Bills: Perry Fewell wasted no time making changes on his first full day as the Bills interim coach, picking Ryan Fitzpatrick to be the starting quarterback. The decision to go with Fitzpatrick over Trent Edwards was announced shortly after the team's practice yesterday as the Bills (3-6) prepare to play at Jacksonville (5-4) this weekend.

Fitzpatrick said he was excited about the opportunity, and indicated that the starting job is his indefinitely. Fitzpatrick is 1-1 in two starts and also rallied the Bills to a 16-13 overtime win over the New York Jets on Oct. 18, after Edwards was knocked out of the game.

■ Vikings: Cornerback Antoine Winfield has given himself an "85 percent" chance of returning to play this week.

Winfield hurt his right foot on Oct. 18 against Baltimore and sat out the last three games. He participated in much of Wednesday's practice, saying afterward if he's not ready for Sunday's game against Seattle he's "100 percent" sure he'll play the following week against Chicago.

■ Broncos: Quarterback Kyle Orton didn't prace as Denver installed its game plan for its game against San Diego Chargers. Backup Chris Simms took the snaps at practice Wednesday because of Orton's bum ankle.

Orton is holding out hope he'll start Sunday. He was knocked out of the Broncos' 27-17 loss at Washington last weekend with a sprained left ankle and replaced by a rusty Simms.

Simms is best known for having his spleen removed after taking a beating in a loss to Carolina on Sept. 24, 2006, while he was playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

■ Ravens: Linebacker Terrell Suggs will miss Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts because of a knee injury.

Suggs has a sprained ligament in his right knee, Coach John Harbaugh said yesterday. Suggs was injured on an illegal chop block by Cleveland Browns quarterback Brady Quinn, who was fined by the NFL.