PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Smith or No Smith: That Is Question

For the second consecutive day, fullback Steve Smith did not practice because of an ankle injury. Coach Art Shell did not seem too worried.

“If he can go (Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), he’ll go,” Shell said Thursday. “Last week, he told me that he’d be ready to play, but I didn’t think that he would. It wasn’t until I saw him in warm-ups that I knew he’d play.”

If Smith cannot play, the Raiders might again turn to rookie free agent Randy Jordan.

Against Seattle, Jordan gained 15 yards in two carries and caught a pass for five yards.

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Last Sunday against Seattle, Shell used reserve offensive lineman Todd Peat in place of veteran guard Max Montoya for a couple of series in the second half. Shell said he did that to help give Montoya, a 13-year NFL veteran, some rest.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a couple of weeks now,” Shell said. “I want to make sure to have (Montoya) ready for us at the end.”

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With three games left in the regular season, the Raiders are in pretty good physical shape. Rookie Greg Robinson, the team’s leading rusher, is the only Raider definitely sidelined for Sunday’s game, because of a knee injury. Offensive tackle Greg Skrepenak, who had a foot injury, and running back Napoleon McCallum, who was recuperating from an appendectomy, are expected to play. Only rookie safety Patrick Bates, who injured his left thigh muscle against Seattle, is listed as questionable.