McNair Gives Injury the Boot

Tennessee quarterback Steve McNair will be wearing a boot on his left foot for at least five days to heal a sprained ankle.

But Coach Jeff Fisher said Friday that he isn’t close to benching McNair for backup Neil O’Donnell.

“He’s got to be pretty banged up,” Fisher said about benching McNair. “You saw him run around [Thursday night]. He ran for a pretty big first down, he ran around and found Eddie [George] on a scramble. He’s not isolated to the pocket now. He still has the ability to move.”

McNair also is suffering from turf toe on the same foot that was stepped on last week in a 41-14 loss at Baltimore. He misfired on several passes in the first half Thursday night in a 21-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders, and fans chanted for O’Donnell several times as McNair even short-hopped one pass.

Fisher expects McNair to be ready to practice Wednesday and will gauge his mobility then. The Titans’ next game is a week from Sunday against Atlanta.

McNair has not thrown a touchdown pass in six games and is drawing criticism for a passing attack that managed only 103 yards against Oakland.

“If the medical staff and myself and Steve feels he needs a week off to heal up, we’ll consider that. But it’s not even up for discussion at this point,” Fisher said. “I think he’ll be fine.”

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Ten days after surviving a threat to his job security, Oakland kicker Michael Husted again is under scrutiny after missing two field goals the loss at Tennessee.

Husted was wide left on a 32-yard attempt and was short on an attempt that was partially blocked Thursday night as the Raiders were virtually eliminated from playoff contention.

“I am going to sit down and grab Michael and talk to him. It’s obviously an area we’re concerned about,” Coach Jon Gruden said Friday. “He had one kick blocked and missed another one he should have made.”

Gruden did not say whether the Raiders would consider other kickers, as they did last week after a crucial miss by Husted in the closing minutes of a 37-34 loss to Kansas City. Scott Bentley and Joe Nedney auditioned for the Raiders on Nov. 30.

Kicking has been a weakness for Oakland for the last few seasons. Husted, signed by the Raiders as a free agent from Tampa Bay before this season, had hoped to change that situation.

“Obviously, it’s been a frustrating season. I looked forward so much to coming in here and rectifying the kicking game,” he said. “Unfortunately, that hasn’t been the case this year. Kicks go a little left and a little right and I don’t know what to say about it.”

Husted said he knows he’ll be a focus of Raider officials during the 10 days of preparations for their next game, against Tampa Bay on Dec. 19, and said he’s comfortable with whatever decision they make.