National Football League

Hamstrung Oakland will get Gallery back, if not McFadden, too

Published Oct. 15, 2010 10:12 a.m. ET

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Twelve Raiders have gone down with hamstring injuries since the start of training camp 13 if you count Darren McFadden twice, and guard Robert Gallery chuckled Thursday when he was asked for a possible explanation.

"It's hard to say," Gallery said. "The doctors say it's from overwork, so I guess I will go with what the doctors say."

Gallery's hamstring popped in the season opener against Tennessee, and he returned to practice this week. He said he is good to go and will return to the starting lineup Sunday against the 49ers at Candlestick Park.

McFadden's left hamstring tightened up during training camp and he missed three weeks. Now, it's his right one and while it's not as bad - the running back returned to practice in limited fashion Wednesday - he is not sure if he can play Sunday.

"Right now, I'm still feeling it," McFadden said. "I haven't just gone out there and tried to go 100 percent all the way."

McFadden, who ran for 392 yards and caught for 162 in the first four games, missed Sunday's win over San Diego and said he is 50/50 to play against the Niners. He is having a hard time not thinking about re-injuring the hamstring.

"I am taking my time with it," McFadden said. "You just try to tell yourself you just want to go out and try to coast, don't hit a burst until you feel like you can all the way."

As for Gallery, he had no illusions of returning before he could get in a stance and drive, and that just happened a few days ago.

"You can't fight through that," he said. "I just have to be comfortable with the stuff I do in practice and go in a game and do that. Obviously, it's probably not going to feel great or 100 percent - nobody is - but if I can go, that's what I am going to do."

Gallery has enjoyed watching the running game thrive. Backup guard Daniel Loper did a nice job filling in for Gallery and the offensive line is helping the running backs average 134.2 yards per game rushing, seventh in the NFL.

"Yeah and we can still be a lot better, especially up front," Gallery said. "You know those backs are running hard and gaining yards and we need to continue to make that a staple for us."

The Raiders haven't missed a beat whether it's been McFadden or inside runner Michael Bush 104 yards and a touchdown against San Diego as the lead running back.

"Both those guys run hard, with a little different style obviously," Gallery said. "If one guy is out, the other guy will be just as fine."

Campbell to start: As expected, Jason Campbell will start at quarterback Sunday. Bruce Gradkowski missed practice again Thursday with a shoulder injury.

"There is some improvement with Bruce, but unless he can work today, we kind of know where we're heading with it," Raiders coach Tom Cable said.

Gradkowski will probably be the No. 3 quarterback against the 49ers, with Kyle Boller backing up Campbell. ... Backup running back Michael Bennett hamstring returned from the birth of his third son, and was running on the side at practice. ... Cable said linebacker Thomas Howard's knee injury is not serious and he should be able to return next week.

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