PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Montgomery Gets Another Start

Staying with the hot back of the week, Coach Art Shell said Wednesday that Ty Montgomery would be his starting tailback for Sunday’s wild-card playoff game at the Coliseum against the Denver Broncos.

The starting fullback won’t be decided until the availability of Steve Smith (ankle injury) is determined.

Last week, the Raiders started a backfield of Randy Jordan and Napoleon McCallum. The week before, it was Nick Bell and Smith.

Although he didn’t start last week against the Broncos in the regular-season finale, Montgomery wound up as the Raiders’ leading rusher with 44 yards in 13 carries.

“If I wasn’t ready when they called my number,” Montgomery said, “it would have made me look bad.

“This is the chance of a lifetime. This is what you dream about, what you fantasize about, what you come here for.”

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Rocket Ismail, who suffered a sprained neck Sunday, worked out Wednesday, but did not put on pads and participate fully in practice. He is listed as questionable for Sunday. Defensive lineman Nolan Harrison, who suffered a leg injury last Sunday but continued to play, sat out practice.

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Robert Rosenfeld, team physician since 1966, died Tuesday night of lung cancer at age 80.

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The Raiders will play host to the Houston Oilers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints next season in addition to their AFC West opponents.

On the road, they will face the Rams, the San Francisco 49ers, the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots plus their regular division rivals.

Game dates will be announced in April.