Wilson Unable to Practice; Plunkett Will Face Giants

In one day, Marc Wilson went from probable to questionable to the sidelines. Jim Plunkett, at 38 the oldest quarterback in the NFL, is going back into the lineup for the Raiders’ home opener Sunday against the New York Giants.

Wilson has a sore right shoulder, or more precisely, a first-degree separation. He got it on a hit he took after throwing a pass away on the first drive last week at Washington.

When Wilson was unable to practice Thursday--the team’s day to put in the offensive game plan--Plunkett became No. 1, for a week.

“It’s definitely Jim,” Coach Tom Flores said. “We just wanted to see if Marc could throw at all. He was still sore. It’s obvious he won’t be ready by Sunday.

“The outlook on Marc, right now (team doctors) feel is good. He’s getting stronger. Today he was better than yesterday. Tomorrow he should be better than today. He should be ready next week.”

Plunkett will be starting for the first time in one day less than a year. In last season’s third game, his left shoulder was dislocated on a sack by the San Francisco 49ers’ Jeff Stover.

Wilson played the rest of the season. Plunkett returned to practice but was never re-activated.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Plunkett said. “I want to play. That’s why I’m in this league, to play. It’s not like I haven’t been here before.

“It’s been difficult. Marc’s played well. The quarterback position is a tough position because only one can play. If a linebacker doesn’t play, he’s on special teams or something. Here, you can just sit and watch.”

Another starter went down Thursday when Curt Marsh, the ever-promising guard with the star-crossed career, was put on injured reserve once more. Marsh suffered a knee injury in Washington, which is expected to keep him out for four weeks.

Charley Hannah, who held out through training camp, will start Sunday for the first time this season at his old left guard spot, which Marsh had been playing. Veteran Mickey Marvin will stay at right guard, giving the Raiders the same lineup they used last season.

For Marsh, it was only the latest in a numbing succession of injuries. A model of the modern guard--huge, strong, dedicated--the 6-foot 5-inch, 275-pound Marsh was a No. 1 draft choice from Washington in 1981.

As a rookie, he stepped in for Gene Upshaw, becoming the first rookie offensive lineman to start for the Raiders since Upshaw in 1967.

Marsh made several all-rookie teams and started through the ’82 season but after that, injuries got him. He missed the entire 1983 season with a bad back. He was set to reclaim his starting job last season when he broke an arm in training camp.

To cheer him up last season, Howie Long told Marsh that he’d used up all his bad luck, and could now walk across a freeway without getting hurt. But shortly after that, Marsh broke a finger in a pregame warmup, although it didn’t keep him out of action.

Marsh reclaimed his starting job this season until he was hurt Sunday. He went back into that game, too, and suffered another broken finger.

To fill Marsh’s spot on the roster, the Raiders activated kick returner Fulton Walker. Walker will return kickoffs alongside Napoleon McCallum and may take over punt returning from McCallum.