Tuiasosopo Hurts His Knee

By the time the Oakland Raiders were done Sunday, the 2003 Super Bowl runners-up had lost for the fourth consecutive time and were down to their third-string quarterback.

Second-string quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo, making his first NFL start in place of Rich Gannon, was sidelined late in the first half because of a knee injury and the struggling Detroit Lions walked away with a 23-13 victory.

“We did an X-ray and it’s at least a sprained ligament,” said Tuiasosopo, who had nearly rallied the Raiders to a win Oct. 20 against Kansas City after Gannon had been taken out because of a shoulder injury. “We won’t know for sure what it is until [today].”

Before he departed, Tuiasosopo completed six of 11 passes for 65 yards, with an interception on his second pass.

On Oakland’s third drive, he bobbled a snap, then ran up the middle and fumbled when Detroit’s Boss Bailey hit him. Raider center Barret Robbins recovered the fumble. Trainers then worked on Tuiasosopo’s left knee, but he stayed in for two more possessions. The second one ended with a sack.

Rick Mirer, the former Notre Dame quarterback who was making his first appearance since playing one game for the San Francisco 49ers three years ago, replaced Tuiasosopo with the Raiders trailing, 10-0. Mirer completed 15 of 28 for 125 yards, with two interceptions. Going into the game, the Lions (2-6) had lost six consecutive and 14 of 15 dating to last season.

“I’m not going to lie, it’s been difficult,” said Detroit quarterback Joey Harrington, who completed 13 of 21 passes for 117 yards, with a touchdown and an interception.

Detroit turned two turnovers into 10 first-quarter points, and scored 13 more on its first three second-half possessions.