--C John Wade will make his first start for the Raiders against Miami, with Jake Grove already having been ruled out with a calf injury. No word on how long Grove will be out.

--T Mario Henderson played 20 snaps in place of Kwame Harris against Carolina, and Cable hinted Henderson could start at left tackle against Miami.

--KR Johnnie Lee Higgins could be replaced again on both punts and kickoffs after losing the opening kickoff, which resulted in a Carolina touchdown, and playing poorly on punt returns. Candidates include Rashad Baker and Michael Waddell in both specialties, as well as Michael Bush on kickoffs.

--WR Chaz Schilens, a rookie who has started the last four games, hasn't caught a pass in the last two and left with an ankle injury against Carolina.

--WR Javon Walker left with an ankle injury against the Panthers but returned to the game. He was being examined Monday. Walker's two catches for 27 yards were the only receptions by wide receivers.

--QB Andrew Walter had X-rays that were negative on a right ankle after injuring it against Carolina. His condition is day-to-day. If Walter or Russell aren't ready to practice, Marques Tuiasosopo would take reps Wednesday with the first team.

REPORT CARD VS. PANTHERS

PASSING OFFENSE: F -- Walter was 14 of 32 for 143 yards and two interceptions, including one in the end zone. He and Marques Tuiasosopo, who played a series and a half when Walter injured his ankle, were sacked five times. Wide receivers caught just two passes for 27 yards, both by Javon Walker. Lots of checkdowns, with running backs catching eight passes for 68 yards.

RUSHING OFFENSE: C-plus -- Justin Fargas had 89 yards on 22 carries, his biggest output since Week 1 and his first time over 4-yards per carry since Week 2. Seventeen of those yards came on a third-and-19 draw. Michael Bush added 30 yards on eight carries. Walter and Tuiasosopo had 30 yards on five attempts. It wasn't great, but it was an upgrade from the 114 yards combined in the previous two games.

PASS DEFENSE: A -- The Raiders best performance of the season, with two interceptions by newly anointed nickel back Rashad Baker and one each by Nnamdi Asomugha and Sam Williams. Jake Delhomme managed just a 12.3 quarterback rating, going 7-for-27 for 72 yards. The Raiders had just two sacks but had Delhomme uncomfortable and confused.

RUSH DEFENSE: B-minus -- Just one play away from an "A" effort - but what a big play it was. DeAngelo Williams ran up the middle for a 69-yard touchdown in the second quarter, with Baker spinning off on a high backside tackle attempt. Williams rushed for 140 yards on 19 carries. Erase the 69-yard run and the Panthers gained 93 yards on 27 carries, or 3.4 per attempt.

SPECIAL TEAMS: D -- Huge mistake on the opening kickoff, with Johnnie Lee Higgins fumbling and setting up the Panthers for a quick touchdown on a 16-yard drive just 1:27 into the game. Higgins later showed bad judgment fielding a punt but managed to trap it against his helmet before going out of bounds. Higgins averaged just 2.4 yards on seven punt returns and 18 yards on four kickoff returns. Shane Lechler punted 11 times for 50.5 gross and a respectable if not spectacular 37.5 net. Sebastian Janikowski kicked field goals of 38 and 45 yards and missed from 58 with 13 seconds left.

COACHING: B-minus - As flat and uninspired as the Raiders were in a 24-0 loss to Atlanta the previous week, giving up a quick touchdown following the opening kickoff could have led to a repeat. It never happened. The Raiders played solid, inspired defense throughout against a playoff caliber team. Offensively, they did themselves in with their own mistakes and lack of a passing attack, but not through lack of effort. In all three areas, the Raiders looked like a well-prepared team that simply didn't deliver.