PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Ismail Might Be Used as Running Back

Rocket Ismail, a star at Notre Dame and in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts, spent the summer waiting to join the Raiders, sitting home while contract negotiations dragged on.

He has spent the autumn waiting to get a steady role with the offense.

Ismail is a receiver, but he must compete for playing time with starters Tim Brown and Alexander Wright, and rookie James Jett.

Ismail is a punt returner, but the Raiders already have Brown, the best in team history.

Ismail is a kick returner, and, when the Raiders finally gave him that job, he raced into the AFC lead in that category heading into last weekend’s games.

Last Sunday against the San Diego Chargers, Ismail found himself in yet another role--running back.

Although the Raiders appear to have solved their difficulties at that position, they gave Ismail one carry and he gained 10 yards.

Will there be more carries to follow?

“There’s a possibility that’s going to happen more,” Coach Art Shell said. “Rocket has a lot of running ability and he understands how. He was like a running back at Notre Dame, so that’s something that could be developed for the future.”

The near future?

“Let’s just say we are going to try to get the ball in the hands of guys who can make plays,” Shell said.