PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Hostetler Takes Day Off, Is Expected Back

At the Raiders’ insistence, Jeff Hostetler stayed home from work Monday.

The quarterback, knocked out of Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers because of a concussion at the start of the second half, was excused from viewing film. Coach Art Shell said he hasn’t had any indication that Hostetler would sit out Sunday’s regular-season finale against the Denver Broncos at the Coliseum.

“He’s still feeling a little woozy,” Shell said. “So, rather than come and watch film (Monday), he’ll stay home and take it easy and probably come in (today). The indication I’ve had is that he’s going to be all right.”

Shell said he talked to Hostetler at the airport Sunday night while the Raiders were preparing to fly home from Green Bay.

“I’ve got a little headache, for more reasons than one,” the quarterback told his coach.

Hostetler left after getting sacked by Tony Bennett. It was the fourth time Hostetler had been pulled or knocked onto the frozen surface of Lambeau Field on an afternoon when the temperature dropped to a wind-chilled minus 22 degrees.

Hostetler’s successor, Vince Evans, was also sacked four times in a 28-0 Raider defeat.

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The game wasn’t any easier on Raider fullback Steve Smith. Smith, bothered for weeks by a nagging ankle injury, had not been used in the backfield against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers a week earlier. He played Sunday and suffered.

“He was very sore,” Shell said. “We took him out about midway through the fourth quarter. He was just limping badly.”

That’s not good news for a running game that has gained 63 yards over the last two games.