Panthers' Stewart sits out practice

Rookie RB uncertain for Oakland

Carolina Panthers rookie running back Jonathan Stewart missed his second straight practice Thursday and was in a walking boot to protect his sore left heel.

Stewart first complained of the injury two weeks ago. He played in Carolina's win over the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 26 but was held to 10 yards on eight carries.

The Panthers were off last week, but the injury has kept Stewart sidelined. His status for Sunday's game against the Raiders at Oakland is uncertain.

"It's a sharp pain in my heel," he said. "I have to run the ball, and it hurts every time I press off on it."

The Panthers had better news with their offensive line. Center Ryan Kalil and right tackle Jeff Otah practiced for a second straight day and are expected to start against the Raiders.

TENDINITIS LIMITS RUSSELL: Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was unable to finish practice Thursday because of tendinitis in his right knee. He is expected to play Sunday against Carolina.

Russell took most of the reps with the first-team offense but was held out of the final eight plays after complaining of soreness in his knee.

"It's more precautionary than anything else," interim coach Tom Cable said. "We kind of did it just to hold him back. He did a great [job] today, so the last eight reps weren't going to matter."

NINERS' BATTLE OUT: Wide receiver Arnaz Battle will miss the San Francisco 49ers' game at Arizona on Monday night with a sprained right foot.

Battle, the 49ers' second-leading receiver with 24 catches for 318 yards, has played in 42 consecutive games.

JAGUARS' PETERSON SENT HOME: Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Mike Peterson was sent home again Thursday and probably will be benched or suspended for this week's road game against the Detroit Lions.

Coach Jack Del Rio was still deciding how to punish the Jaguars' captain, who was asked to leave Wednesday after a confrontation with the coach during a team meeting Wednesday.

Teammates say Del Rio called out Peterson for his muscle-flexing celebration after a shoestring sack at Cincinnati on Sunday. Del Rio was upset that Peterson was celebrating a play during a game in which the Jaguars trailed 21-3.

JETS LINEBACKER OUT: The New York Jets will be without leading tackler David Harris for at least two to three weeks after having surgery on his injured groin, according to published reports.

Harris, who leads the Jets with 52 tackles in his second season, had a procedure Wednesday to repair the injury, the Daily News and Star-Ledger of Newark reported Thursday.

PARKER INJURED AGAIN: Willie Parker missed practice for the second day in a row Thursday because of a shoulder injury -- not the sprained knee that kept him out of four games -- and the Pittsburgh Steelers running back's status for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts is uncertain.

Parker, a former North Carolina player, returned from his knee injury layoff to rush for 71 yards and a touchdown in a 23-6 victory over the Redskins on Monday night. Parker hadn't played since hurting the knee Sept. 21 against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ben Roethlisberger, dealing with a slightly separated right shoulder and a left pinkie ligament injury, also didn't practice Thursday.

SCHOBEL OUT: Buffalo Bills pass-rusher Aaron Schobel will spend at least the next week with his left foot in a cast but is not expected to miss the rest of the season.