Branch May Go on Injured List

Cliff Branch’s right hamstring is still too sore for him to practice, and Wednesday, for the first time, Raider Coach Tom Flores raised the possibility of putting him on the injured-reserve list.

“He won’t be ready this week,” Flores said. “And I don’t know if he’ll be ready next week. At this point, I’m getting concerned.

“If we don’t see any positive signs, we’re going to run out of time. We might be faced with putting him on IR (injured reserve).”

Branch is 37, didn’t catch a touchdown pass last year, and there has been speculation that his future is in doubt. Were he to go on the injured-reserved list, he would probably have to go through waivers to get back on the roster. The Raiders will likely use their one free move to bring back Curt Marsh.

Raider Notes Defensive end Sean Jones engaged offensive guard Charlie Hannah in the camp’s top fight. Jones pulled off Hannah’s helmet and was pummeling him with it until they were pulled apart. . . . Todd Christensen and Kenny King are expected to play against the Dolphins. Shelby Jordan, blasted to the earth on a blind-side block by the Redskins’ Neal Olkewicz, is doubtful. Tight end candidate Trey Junkin is questionable.