PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Newcomer Wright to Return Kickoffs

Wide receiver Alexander Wright, who was acquired from the Dallas Cowboys in a trade this week, is expected to return kickoffs and might play on offense Sunday at Seattle.

Wright, who won the NFL’s fastest-man competition last June, has impressed Coach Art Shell with his ability to learn the Raider offense so quickly.

“He’s pretty good mentally in that he is not having a problem picking things up,” Shell said. “He is getting plenty of help from the other receivers and is meeting with (Fred Biletnikoff, Raider wide receiver coach) regularly.”

The Raiders are looking for Wright, who averaged 24.5 yards per kickoff return last season, to become their special teams weapon. Wright will join Napoleon McCallum as a return man.

“We first want to have someone back there who can catch the ball,” Shell said. “Napoleon does not have the speed, but he does have the ability to catch the ball and make a run.

“What Wright has is speed and we’ll try to get the ball to the speed guy as much as possible.”

In three games this season for Dallas, Wright led the Cowboys with a 14.6-yard return average. In his three-year NFL career, he has returned two kickoffs for touchdowns.

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Shell said he expects cornerback Lionel Washington to play against Seattle. Washington suffered a groin injury in the first quarter against Buffalo last Sunday. . . . The Raiders have a four-game winning streak over Seattle and Shell is 4-1-0 as a head coach against the Seahawks. . . . Seattle will start former World League player Stan Gelbaugh at quarterback in place of Dan McGwire and Kelly Stouffer, who are both injured.