PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Esiason’s Status in Doubt for Sunday

Cincinnati quarterback Boomer Esiason injured his throwing hand in the Bengals’ 17-10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, and his status for this Sunday’s game against the Raiders in Cincinnati remains in doubt.

“I expect Boomer to play,” Raider Coach Art Shell said. “Boomer wasn’t supposed to play last year against us, but he showed up. I don’t pay attention to all that stuff.”

Shell was referring to last January’s playoff game against the Bengals, when Esiason started despite flu.

Shell said injured running back Nick Bell is making good progress but does not know when the rookie will return to the Raider roster.

“I haven’t really gotten into it, to tell you the truth,” Shell said.

Bell, who suffered broken ribs against the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 28, is eligible to return from injured reserve in time for the Dec. 1 game against the Chargers in San Diego.