PRO FOOTBALL REPORT : WEEKDAY UPDATE : RAIDERS : Jackson’s Debut Doesn’t Shock Shell

Eighteen days after hanging up his baseball spikes, Bo Jackson rushed for 53 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Raiders’ 24-9 victory over the Chargers Sunday in San Diego.

“It doesn’t amaze me,” Raider Coach Art Shell said. “And believe me, you’re going to think I’m crazy, but I think we’ve got quite a few players on the team who could possibly do the same thing, coming in here and playing the game of football in a short period of time. And play it well. Look at Eric Dickerson. He hasn’t done anything, but I think he played pretty good (gaining 55 yards in nine carries).”

Shell said Jackson will benefit from this week’s Sunday off.

“He’s going through training camp now,” Shell said. “The first day of training camp is always good. Fresh legs. Sure, he’ll get healthy from the little soreness he had (Sunday).”

Shell said a prime Raider goal this season was reducing penalties. The Raiders were cited for a season-high 10 penalties against Seattle in their second game, but have been penalized only six times in the last two weeks.

“I think a lot of times maybe our reputations preceded us,” Shell said of his team’s image, “so maybe we got some calls that we shouldn’t have got in the past.”