Raiders emerge healthy from the bye

ALAMEDA, Calif.(AP) — The Oakland Raiders are finally healthy, at
least on offense.

Running back Darren McFadden, wide receiver Chaz Schilens, left
guard Robert Gallery and right tackle Cornell Green returned to
practice Monday and are expected to play against the Kansas City
Chiefs this week.

That would be a much-needed morale boost for an offense that has
scored just six touchdowns in eight games and ranks 31st in
total yardage.

“This is the healthiest this football team has been, there’s no
question, particularly on offense,” Raiders coach Tom Cable
said. “In terms of having them all back and into sync and the
energy in the huddle and all those things, it was good to have
them back.”

Gallery, the second overall pick in the 2004 draft, and Schilens
practiced without restrictions while Oakland took a more
cautious approach with McFadden and Green, who were limited.

Schilens hasn’t played this year since breaking a bone in his
left foot during training camp. He was projected to be the
Raiders’ No. 1 receiver but instead spent the first two months
of the season as a spectator after having surgery while rookies
Darrius Heyward-Bey and Louis Murphy started.

McFadden also had surgery, to repair a torn meniscus in his
right knee, while Gallery broke his right leg in Week 2. Green
has been sidelined with a calf strain since Oct. 4.

“No pressure, but yeah we’ve got some work to do,” Schilens said
Monday before practice. “Anything would be good for us right
now. Confidence, have a positive attitude and get the passing
game going a little bit so we can definitely get that going.”

Oakland’s problems on offense are wide-ranging.

Quarterback JaMarcus Russell is seriously struggling in his
second year as the starter and has completed only 48.4 percent
of his throws. He has just two touchdown passes and nine
interceptions with a 48.3 rating.

Russell hasn’t got much support from the rest of the Raiders
offense. The offensive line has allowed 25 sacks in eight games,
the running game is averaging just 93.6 yards a game and no wide
receiver has more than 16 receptions.

Cable acknowledged it’s natural to wonder what could have been
had the Raiders had all four players healthy from the beginning
but said it’s also pointless.

Defensive end Greg Ellis, who had arthroscopic surgery on his
left knee last week, was held out of Monday’s workout while
defensive tackle Tommy Kelly was excused to handle personal
business.

Earlier in the day Oakland signed defensive tackle William
Joseph and released offensive lineman Paul McQuistan, the team’s
third-round draft pick in 2006.