One might think that the Raiders being eliminated from playoff contention Sunday would clear the way for rookie quarterback JaMarcus Russell to start the final three games. That's fine, but Coach Lane Kiffin has quite a different way of viewing the situation. Yes, Russell will play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, Kiffin said Monday. No, it has nothing to do with the Raiders' having little to play for the rest of the season other than pride and gleaning information for next season. "Since the last time he played, I planned on playing him when we got back here for this game," Kiffin said in reference to Russell's NFL debut Dec. 2, against the Denver Broncos. "He'll play in some role. The length of that role I haven't determined yet." Kiffin said Russell won't start against the Colts. That role likely will fall to Josh McCown (finger) or Daunte Culpepper (quadriceps) depending upon whom the healthier is by game time. Russell entered the Broncos' game early in the second quarter and directed two eight-play drives before turning over the reins to McCown for the rest of the game.