Raiders’ McCown will start on Sunday

The Oakland Raiders will start Josh McCown at quarterback Sunday against the Houston Texans, looking to spark an offense that has scored only two touchdowns over the last three games,

McCown, Oakland’s opening day starter, replaces Daunte Culpepper, who has struggled to move the offense in recent weeks after taking over for McCown in Week 4.

“I felt Daunte played really well for us, but with Josh coming back and looking healthy again, we’re going to go back with Josh,” Raiders Coach Lane Kiffin said Thursday.

McCown sat out the last four games while recovering from a broken toe on his left foot suffered Sept. 23 against Cleveland.

The Raiders also failed to sell out their stadium for Sunday’s game, meaning the New England-Indianapolis game -- a battle of the NFL’s only remaining unbeaten teams -- will be televised in the Bay Area market.

The local television blackout is the 67th in 100 games the Raiders have had since moving to Oakland in 1995.

San Diego Chargers cornerback Drayton Florence was fined $15,000 by the NFL for his helmet-to-helmet hit that gave Houston quarterback Matt Schaub a concussion.

While Florence said he’ll appeal the fine, Houston General Manager Rick Smith said the fine wasn’t enough. Schaub won’t start Sunday’s game against Oakland.

“We are disappointed in the sense that we have lost our starting quarterback for at least one game after the player took the crown of his helmet and delivered an illegal blow to Matt’s jaw and the fine levied is only a small fraction of the player’s weekly pay,” Smith said in a statement released by the Texans. “Is that equitable? The punishment doesn’t appear to fit the crime when all factors are considered.”

With a base salary of $896,000, Florence makes $52,706 a week. With Schaub out, the Texans will go with Sage Rosenfels.

The Indianapolis Colts practiced again without eight-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Marvin Harrison and may not have him for Sunday’s game against the New England Patriots.

Harrison, the Colts’ career receiving leader, sat out for the second straight day because of a bruised left knee that has already forced him to sit out two of the last three games.

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Steve McNair says he has recovered from back and groin injuries and plans to play Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers. . . . Denver Broncos Coach Mike Shanahan said that wide receiver Rod Smith’s hip isn’t recovering fast enough and he won’t be activated this season. In addition, rookie defensive end Jarvis Moss broke his right shin during practice, will have surgery in the next few days and will be out for three to four months.

New York Jets wide receiver Laveranues Coles missed his second straight day of practice because of a concussion and it was uncertain if he’d be able to play Sunday against Washington. . . . Suspended cornerback Adam “Pacman” Jones will meet today with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about a possible early reinstatement. The NFL declined to comment.