Andrew Walter was a backup to Josh McCown in last week’s preseason win over Arizona
but impressed coaches with his work against the Cardinals and in practice
this week.
“We feel that Andrew played well in the first game and it also gives us a
chance to see guys in different settings,” Kiffin said. “It gives Andrew a
shot to go in with the first unit against the first defense, too.”
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| Andrew Walter getting sacked versus Baltimore in 2006. |
Daunte Culpepper, who was third in the QB rotation against Arizona, will be
second on the depth chart against the 49ers while McCown will be Oakland’s
third quarterback for the game.
“It gives Daunte a chance to play in the first half and not sit the whole
time,” Kiffin said. “Then it will give us a look at Josh coming off the bench
to see how well he does as well.”
Kiffin also said the team had not made much progress in talks with
first-round draft pick JaMarcus Russell. Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in the draft,
has been spotted in Northern California recently but as of yet, negotiations
between the two sides have yielded little.
As a result, Kiffin says the Raiders are moving forward without Russell for
now.
“I’ve got to protect this team. I’ve got to do everything to get this team
in position to win and play Detroit (in the season opener),” Kiffin said. “To take time to, whatever that means, JaMarcus, whatever that means, is not
helping this team right now. If he gets here, when he gets there, we’ll do
everything we can. But right now we’ve got to get ready to win as if he’s not
here.”