PLAYER NOTES

-- QB Sam Keller, a local Bay Area high school star who hoped to catch on as perhaps a practice squad quarterback, was cut when the Raiders signed draft picks Arman Shields and Trevor Scott.

-- QB Jeff Otis was released when draft picks were signed, but was brought back a day later as a camp arm when the Raiders released running back LaMont Jordan.

-- RB LaMont Jordan was cut when the Raiders couldn't find a trade partner. Jordan had a $6.4 cap figure this year and was due $4.7 million in salary. He has $1.4 million in pro-rated signing bonus money in each of the next two years. The Raiders save $3.3 million against the cap with his release.

-- S Greg Wesley was signed to a one-year contract to the veteran minimum after being released by Kansas City. He was out of early practices with back spasms.

-- DT Tranell Morant, an undrafted free agent from Arizona State, was waived on the eve of camp when the Raiders signed their final draft picks.

BATTLE OF THE WEEK: Andrew Walter vs. Marques Tuiasosopo for backup quarterback: Neither man did much to pull away in early practices, except when they were pulling away from center too soon and losing the ball. Both have had center-exchange problems -- Tuiasosopo had two in a single practice. Walter is the better pure passer, but Tuiasosopo can run up the middle and around end when flushed out of the pocket, something which could be valuable considering Oakland's problems pass blocking the outside. Tuiasosopo had a superb passing session during the Raiders' first night practice, a night Walter missed with a minor wrist injury.

OTHER BATTLE FRONTS: Jake Grove vs. John Wade and Chris Morris at starting center: Grove is being given the chance to take the job and win it initially. He came back stronger in the upper and lower body but must prove his knee can stand up after surgery; Arman Shields vs. Chaz Schilens at fourth or fifth wide receiver: Schilens, a seventh-round pick, had the early edge because Shields missed extensive offseason time with a hamstring pull. Shields, however, immediately showed why he was drafted in the fourth round, ahead of Schilens, by making several difficult catches in practice.

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: RB Michael Bush. Nobody will know for sure until he takes a hit in a preseason or regular season game, but Bush looked like a nimble power back in his first training camp. He missed all of last season with a broken leg sustained in the first game of his college season in 2006.

ROOKIE REPORT: RB Darren McFadden showed an eye-opening burst of speed on sweeps and stretch plays, but had three dropped passes in one practice and was having trouble pass blocking in another. ... S Tyvon Branch looked better reacting to balls in flight in early camp practices than he did during minicamps and OTAs. ... WR Arman Shields showed no signs of a hamstring pull that sidelined him in the offseason and made several fine catches. ... DE Trevor Scott, a converted tight end, was having trouble getting off blocks and getting off a good pass rush. ... WR Chaz Schilens made no big plays of note but was fairly reliable on short routes.

INJURY REPORT: Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, wide receiver Ronald Curry, center Jake Grove, safety Jarrod Cooper, all of whom had offseason surgery, will be restricted to one practice during two-a-day sessions through the first week of camp. Defensive end Greg Spires sustained a pulled hamstring during the club's training run to open camp, but was back two days later. Linebacker Grant Irons was out with a hamstring pull during the second practice. Safety Greg Wesley missed a practice with back spasms.

Play FOX FANTASY FOOTBALL TODAY!