ESPN NFL

Oakland Raiders: Starting outside linebacker Sam Williams tore a knee ligament Thursday during a practice with the Houston Texans.

Raiders coach Norv Turner said Williams tore an anterior cruciate ligament, but was unsure which knee was injured.

Williams, a third-year player from Fresno State, was in nine games last season and started four. He had 22 tackles and defended three passes. He was injured while trying to make a block in morning practice.

Grant Irons will likely start in his place.

Denver Broncos: After missing nearly two weeks with a groin injury, Maurice Clarett returned to practice Thursday, the last day of training camp for the Broncos.

Now, the question is whether his return has come too late to make the team.

Denver's third-round draft choice hadn't practiced since Aug. 8 due to a strained right groin, an injury that, as recently as Wednesday, didn't appear to be making any progress.

Coach Mike Shanahan, however, has been blunt in his assessment of Clarett all week, not shirking from how hard it would be for a rookie, or any player, to make the roster if he's not practicing.

That might be what suddenly made the groin well enough for Clarett to return Thursday. Or maybe it really did get better. For his part, Clarett did not make himself available for comment after either of Thursday's two practices.

Bailey out again: Champ Bailey missed another practice while he nurses his sore left hamstring.

Shanahan said Bailey's status for Saturday's game against the 49ers will be evaluated again Friday.

"I'd say if its still nagging tomorrow, chances are we would hold him out for obvious reasons, which is good for these young guys," Shanahan said. "Champ has had a lot of different practices and put through a lot of different situations. If he can't go, it sure gives those younger guys to go out there and compete."

The competition is mainly for the nickelback slot, which second-round draft pick Darrent Williams had the inside track on last week. Third-round picks Domonique Foxworth and Carl Paymah are also candidates, as is Roc Alexander.

Bailey missed most of last week, then returned this week for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. But the hamstring started acting up again and he decided to sit out Thursday.

Seattle Seahawks: Offensive tackle Wayne Hunter has a sprained medial collateral ligament in his right knee and will miss the next couple of weeks, coach Mike Holmgren said.

Hunter was injured during practice Tuesday when he was caught in a pile on a running play. He was examined on Wednesday when the team had the day off.

Hunter is in his third season with the Seahawks, after being drafted in the third round in 2003 out of Hawaii. He played in one game last year.

Also, defensive tackle Cedric Woodard has left camp to have his injured left knee examined. Woodard had surgery on the knee in the offseason and is being seen by the doctor who performed the operation, Holmgren said.

Woodard had started 28 games over the last two seasons for Seattle.

Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press