Raiders notes: Chiefs' Cassel also has ties to Jackson

ALAMEDA – Raiders coach Hue Jackson thought Matt Cassel would be the next great USC quarterback after Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer.

It turned out that Matt Leinart followed Palmer as the next Heisman Trophy winner at USC.

Jackson, who recruited Cassel and Palmer while on USC's coaching staff, is impressed by Cassel's perseverance. On Sunday, he'll do everything to beat Cassel, the starting quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, while Palmer suits up for the first time as a Raider.

"This guy (Cassel) ran down on kickoffs (at USC), was willing to play defense or anything to get on the field, and now this guy is a starting quarterback in the National Football League after he didn't play much in college," Jackson said. "It goes to show you that if you work, good things happen to you. He is a really good player. But I won't like him on Sunday."

Jackson was the Trojans' quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator when Cassel arrived at USC.

"Back then I was still trying to learn the X's and O's, and coach Jackson was a great coach and very detailed," Cassel said in a conference call Wednesday. "Since then, obviously, he's moved on and had a lot of success."

Cassel said he speaks with Palmer regularly and knew Palmer hoped to play this season. Cassel said he would not be surprised if Palmer played Sunday.

"He's played in this league for nine years, and he's played a lot of football, even in college," Cassel said. "He has great experience. I think if anybody could do it, it would be Carson."

Despite being a backup at USC behind Palmer and Leinart and not throwing a touchdown pass, Cassel was a seventh-round draft pick of the New England Patriots in 2005.

Done for season – The Raiders placed starting defensive end Matt Shaughnessy on injured reserve because of a shoulder injury, ending his season. The move freed a roster spot for Palmer.

Jackson said Shaughnessy's injury would require surgery.

"We went as far as we could go until we had to make that decision. It just wasn't getting any better," Jackson said. "We lost a really good football player. We'll continue, and we'll rally up. Next man up. The next man's been up for a few weeks."

Desmond Bryant has started the past two weeks at defensive end. The third-year player from Harvard has been credited with 10 tackles this season.

Shaughnessy started the first three games of the season before being injured against the New York Jets in Week 3. He had seven tackles and one sack this season.

More injuries – Running back Rock Cartwright (calf), fullback Marcel Reece (ankle), linebacker Rolando McClain (ankle) and cornerbacks Chimdi Chekwa (hamstring) and Chris Johnson (groin and hamstring) did not practice Wednesday.

Reece was able to work with a trainer. He has been out since being injured against the Jets. Tight end Richard Gordon (broken hand) returned to practice and was limited.

Practice-squad additions – The Raiders signed offensive lineman Zach Hurd, a rookie from Connecticut, to the practice squad. Safety Jerome Boyd, who was waived Tuesday, also was signed to the practice squad.

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