National Football League

Gradkowski remains Raiders' starter for now

Published Oct. 13, 2010 10:14 a.m. ET

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Bruce Gradkowski has an ailing right shoulder. Jason Campbell is playing the way the Raiders envisioned when they traded for him in April. So, where does Raiders coach Tom Cable go from here?

"Bruce would start if he's healthy," Cable said Monday.

Healthy being the key word. Gradkowski underwent an MRI on his shoulder Monday to determine the extent of the injury to his A-C joint. The results won't be released until Wednesday.

For now, Cable is content focusing on the strong play of Jason Campbell in relief of Gradkowski on Sunday in a come-from-behind victory over the San Diego Chargers.

"In our discussions, it's always been about, 'Take this the right way and get out of it what's there for you to get out of it,' " Cable said of a player being benched. "He never once in my discussions with him, or watching him, even acted like a guy who felt sorry for himself."

Campbell was benched by Cable midway through Oakland's second game for his inconsistent play. He found himself with two options: sulk or get better.

Campbell opted for the latter. He watched the video from his performance against the Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams and discovered that he wasn't playing the way he did during his five seasons with the Washington Redskins.

"I felt like I was putting too much pressure on myself to make plays," Campbell said. "I wasn't playing the way I knew how to play and the way I feel I can play. I said, 'Just be ready when your number is called again.' "

That time came late in the first quarter when Gradkowski got tackled from behind by Chargers linebacker Shaun Phillips and reinjured his shoulder.

Campbell completed 13 of 18 passes for 159 yards and one touchdown, without an interception, in helping the Raiders defeat the Chargers 35-27.

"He managed the game as well as we've seen him, obviously," Cable said. "He got in some situations, some tight situations, that he was able to get out of with his feet a couple times, got us in the right checks a couple times. I just thought his overall feel for it was tremendous. He played just like you would hope he would."

Running back Michael Bush said he sensed Campbell's confidence grow as the game progressed.

"He seemed confident in the huddle," Bush said. "He wasn't jittery or nervous or anything. Throughout the course of the game, the more reps he took, the more relaxed he became."

The key, Campbell said, is realizing that there is going to be adversity, ups and downs, throughout a game.

Before Sunday, he tried too hard to impress his teammates, coaches and fans. Now he is intent upon relying upon his instincts.

"You're on a new team and there are high hopes for you, high hopes for the team to win," Campbell said. "You try to put all that on yourself, you try to make every play and you try to pressure yourself to make every play. When you didn't make a play, you have to just let it go. I just said, 'Forget it. I can't play this way.' I have to play the way I know how to play and have fun."

n Strong safety Tyvon Branch is the one featured on the highlight shows, recovering a Philip Rivers fumble, sprinting down the left sideline and into the end zone for a game-clinching touchdown against the Chargers with less than a minute to play.

However, Branch and his teammates are quick to point out that cornerback Chris Johnson is the one who deserves the lion's share of the attention. It was Johnson who leveled a Chargers player who was about to recover the fumble.

"It's crazy that I'm getting glory for the play," Branch said. "I had nothing to do with it. I just ran to the ball. Huff made a nice play, C.J. knocked the ball out again, and I just picked it up and scored."

Johnson said he resisted the urge to go for the ball and, instead, relied upon Branch being there once he neutralized the Chargers player who had his hands on the ball.

"That was my intention, to keep the ball free," Johnson said, "because I saw him trying to pick it up. I could have actually tried to get it myself, but there was only me and Tyvon around it and the offensive lineman. So, my thing was É go for the guy and knock him out of the way and let my guy get it. It worked out."

n Wide receiver Chaz Schilens' 2010 debut remains uncertain, Cable said. However, "There's a great chance" of getting back left guard Robert Gallery.

Gallery has missed the past four games with a hamstring injury he suffered against the Tennessee Titans.

n Defensive tackle John Henderson's stress fracture in his right foot has improved a great deal the past week, he said. He now is out of the protective boot and awaiting word from the trainers on how to proceed.

"It's day-by-day," Henderson said. "Right now, it feels better since I've been off of it for the whole week."

Cable said Henderson is expected to miss at least one more week, perhaps as many as four.

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