Starting quarterback Daunte Culpepper woke up Thursday morning with a sore thigh and didn't do much in Thursday's practice. He told reporters he suffered the injury last Sunday and aggravated it in Wednesday's practice. Josh McCown dislocated his left pinky in practice this week, and the bone popped through the skin. He had the injury stitched up, and he practiced on Thursday. The injury was suffered playing catch with quarterback Andrew Walter.

McCown and Russell shared the practice load on Thursday. Unless Culpepper feels better in the next 48 hours, the Raiders could go into the game with McCown as the starter and Russell as the backup, giving coach Lane Kiffin the option of playing Russell at some point in the game against Kansas City.

Still, don't count out Culpepper, He could practice Friday and reclaim his starting job.

Porter settling in: After an injury-filled training camp and a slow start to the regular season, Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter is coming on and playing some pretty good football. In the past three games, he has 21 tackles, a half sack, two pass defenses and an interception. Over the past four games, the Dolphins defense has allowed only 46 points. That offers some hope for the winless Dolphins as they prepare for the Jets. That also could explain why the Dolphins are favored in this game.

Special special teams: This may go down as one of the greatest special teams seasons in NFL history. After 12 weeks, kickers are making 81.6 percent of their field goals, best ever. The 31 kickoff and punt returns for touchdowns are the most ever. The 23.1 kickoff return average is the best since 1978, the modern era. A few punters are hovering near the 50-yard punt average.

Bills back problems: The Bills may have a big problem running the football Sunday against the Redskins. Marshawn Lynch is still slow coming back from his knee injury. Dick Jauron admitted Anthony Thomas has a torn calf muscle. That could leave Dwayne White and Fred Jackson as the main backs for the Redskins game.

Henry on hold: Mike Shanahan will have to nervously wait to see if Travis Henry gets a ruling from the NFL for his appeal of a positive drug test. If the NFL rules against Henry, the Broncos lose him for a season. Selvin Young would have to handle the running game for the rest of the season. Andre Hall has a high ankle sprain, so it doesn't appear he will be able to play. Shanahan has remained optimistic Henry would win his appeal.