PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Bye Should Help Team Get Healthy

For Jeff Hostetler, it was a case of good news and no news. The Raider quarterback suffered injuries to his left knee and right ankle in Sunday’s 19-16 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

The knee is sore, but OK. The ankle appears to be sprained, but a final diagnosis will not be made until an MRI is completed.

The Raiders have a bye this week, which will help the injured players rehabilitate. Defensive lineman Anthony Smith sprained a hand, but is not expected to miss any action. Receiver/returner Rocket Ismail has a strained muscle in his back that has delayed his much-anticipated NFL debut. Running back Nick Bell (hamstring) and special-teams player Elvis Patterson (thigh) sat out Sunday’s game. Defensive lineman Chester McGlockton (turf toe) and offensive lineman Todd Peat (foot) both played.

*

Raider Coach Art Shell said he was expecting Cleveland to pass on what proved to be the game-winning touchdown run with six seconds left. The Browns, trailing, 16-12, out of timeouts and perched on the Raider one-yard line, probably had time for two pass plays.

A run meant score or lose.

The Raiders double-covered running back Eric Metcalf. But the coverage was on the right side where Metcalf lined up. When he took a handoff and went left, the backside guard went with him while the other Browns sealed off the middle.