PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Week Off Is OK With Shell

Before the season started, Coach Art Shell was skeptical about having two bye weeks over a four-week period because he didn’t believe the Raiders needed that much time off.

Six games into the season, however, Shell’s view has changed. The Raiders are 4-2 and in sole possession of second place in the AFC West, and Shell says the second week off could not have come at a better time.

“At the beginning of the year, I didn’t like the idea of having two byes,” Shell said. “Now, I’m happy that they come along. The byes have been pretty good for us.”

Having extra time for injured players to heal is the main reason the Raiders are pleased with the break. Starting with quarterback Jeff Hostetler, who has been slowed by leg and ankle injuries, the Raiders looked like the walking wounded at practice Thursday.

Among the players who were limited or did not practice were running backs Nick Bell and Steve Smith, defensive linemen Chester McGlockton and Howie Long, and offensive tackle Gerald Perry.

The week off also comes at a good time for assistant coach Joe Scannella. The coach of the running backs had arthroscopic surgery on his knees this week.