Raiders Lose Kimmel for Season

The Raiders, already down one inside linebacker with Matt Millen holding out while being fined $1,000 a day, lost another one.

That was Jamie Kimmel, who had stepped into Millen’s strong-side job. Kimmel tore a ligament in his right knee in Saturday morning’s practice and will be lost for the season.

Kimmel, a fourth-year player, was taken to Cedars of Sinai Medical Center, where surgery will be performed.

After him, the Raiders are about out of veterans. Reggie McKenzie, who lost his starting inside job to Jerry Robinson last season, is working as an outside backer with the No. 2 unit.

Kimmel’s place in the afternoon drill was taken by Eric Snelson, a rookie free agent from Stanford.

Meanwhile, there was no word from the Millen-Raider negotiations, nor have there been any from the Stacey Toran-Raider talks. Both players are represented by Howard Slusher.

Raider Notes

Running back Marcus Allen also went down briefly in the morning scrimmage, with an ankle sprain that turned out to be slight. He kept practicing. As soon as he went down, four trainers and the team doctor ran over to him. Coach Mike Shanahan: “If I’d have seen it, I’d have run over, too.” . . . And first returns on the controversial local climate: “The weather’s been great, hasn’t it?” Shanahan asked.