McCown is back in the mix after resting broken toe

ALAMEDA – Josh McCown feels better. So let the quarterback games begin.

McCown, who started the Raiders' first three games before a broken left toe sidelined him in Week 3, wants to get back on the field.

Unlike the previous two games, when McCown was unable to play, Raiders coach Lane Kiffin wouldn't declare Daunte Culpepper the starter for Sunday's game at Tennessee.

"We don't know that yet," Kiffin said of Culpepper starting against the Titans. "We haven't practiced yet."

The Raiders' next practice is Wednesday. If McCown is healthy, Kiffin might do as he did before the season opener and delay announcing a starter.

McCown returned to practice last week, working with the scout team and doing individual drills. He said Monday his foot felt as good as it had in weeks and he looked forward to not being a spectator.

"I'm just glad to be back out there contributing in practice, helping," McCown said. "I, obviously, want to start and expect to when I'm back. But that will be on (the coaches) to make the best decision they can make, and I'm behind that 100 percent."

Kiffin doesn't believe an injured starter is guaranteed his job when healthy. McCown worked out Monday morning to test his foot, but Kiffin wants to see how he looks in practice.

McCown said he would need a couple of days of practice before feeling comfortable running the offense in a game, but doesn't think his timing would be off.

"I threw a little bit last week so I feel like I'm getting pretty comfortable," McCown said. "So, I don't think that should be an issue. We'll see, though, because I've never had to come back off an injury ... so that's a new thing for me."

Kiffin doesn't know what to expect for McCown but hopes there won't be too much rust.

"We hope that he's out there as if nothing has ever happened," Kiffin said. "We hope that he's out there and can go through the whole practice and participate at a high level."

Home fans who clamored for Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowl selection who joined the Raiders during training camp, booed McCown when he struggled.

Culpepper won his first start in Miami, buoyed by the Raiders' 299 rushing yards. But he has lost his past two starts as the running game has disappeared (108 yards in two games). Culpepper has more interceptions (three) than the offense has touchdowns (two) in losses to San Diego and Kansas City. Overall, he has passed for 650 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions, completing 59.8 percent of his throws. McCown passed for 494 yards, four touchdowns and five interceptions before he was injured, completing 64.7 percent of his passes.

For now, the question of who starts against the Titans remains until McCown shows he's healthy.

"Like I said to (McCown), we'll figure it out once we see that," Kiffin said. "There's nothing to figure out right now because we're not practicing."