Raider Tory James back in the starting lineup
Thursday December 26, 2002
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) Oakland cornerback Tory James will be
back in the starting lineup for the Raiders this week.
With four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson out after
undergoing surgery to repair a broken fibula in his right leg, the
Raiders need every available body for their regular season finale
Saturday against the Kansas City Chiefs.
James started the first 13 games of the year but hasn't played
since Dec. 12 when he had his own leg surgery. Like Woodson, James
had a cracked right fibula and underwent a 45-minute operation to
have a stabilizing plate inserted into his leg.
James practiced this week for the first time since having the
procedure and has been given the go-ahead to play against the
Chiefs.
``He's ready to go and he's cleared to play,'' Raiders coach
Bill Callahan said. ``He looked good. In terms of knowing if he's
ready to go, does he appear like he's the same as he was (before
the surgery)? It appears that he is, yes.''
James originally injured himself during Oakland's 26-20 win over
the New York Jets on Dec. 2, though the full extent of the damage
wasn't discovered until later. He needed a painkilling injection to
make it through the Raiders' game against San Diego the following
week before X-rays revealed the cracked fibula.
Team doctors who performed the surgery on James originally
estimated he could be sidelined one-to-three weeks but he was back
on the field after just 12 days. Even James himself was surprised
at his quick recovery.
``They said it would be between one to three weeks and that
didn't seem right to me,'' said James, who is second on the Raiders
with four interceptions. ``But they were right on. I'm amazed.''
The Raiders were so impressed with James' speedy recovery that
they convinced Woodson to have a similar operation. Oakland's hopes
are that Woodson, who has already missed six games this season,
will be able to return in the playoffs.
James said he could have played during the Raiders' win over
Denver last week but said the extra time off helped.
``At no time did I think I would miss the whole season and the
playoffs,'' James said. ``I knew I'd be back out there. I felt like
if I really had to play (against the Broncos) I could have played
but I didn't have to.''
(Copyright 2002 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)