Raiders’ Gannon out for season

Alameda, Calif. — Rich Gannon will not return to the field for the Oakland Raiders this season because of a broken vertebra in his neck.

The quarterback, who turns 39 in December, saw four of the country’s top neck and spine specialists over the past couple of weeks and was told he shouldn’t try to play again this year. But Gannon didn’t rule out a return next season and wasn’t ready to say he was going to retire.

Vikes might miss Moss

Eden Prairie, Minn. — Randy Moss could miss a game for the first time in his NFL career, but the Minnesota Vikings won’t decide before Friday whether he’ll be forced out by a strained right hamstring. Coach Mike Tice described the injury as more than mild, but Moss could be able to play a limited role in next weekend’s home game against the Tennessee Titans. “He’s a freak,” Tice said, “and he heals really quick.”

Ricky Williams to meet with NFL about return

Davie, Fla. — Retired running back Ricky Williams is scheduled to meet Thursday with the NFL to seek permission to rejoin the Miami Dolphins immediately, despite his multiple violations of the league’s substance-abuse program.

William David Cornwell, an attorney representing Williams, and the NFL Players Assn. also wil lattend the meeting in California.

In July, Williams said he learned shortly before retiring that he had failed a drug test for marijuana — his third violation in the program since 2002.

Because of the violations and Williams’ subsequent retirement, the Dolphins say their understanding is that he is suspended for the entire season. The NFL has declined to comment.

Packers aide returns

Green Bay, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers snapped a four-game losing streak with coach Mike Sherman calling the offensive plays, but the job is going back to Tom Rossley, who has recovered from heart surgery. The Packers’ 38-10 victory Sunday over Detroit was due to the players “executing our scheme more than anything else, I’ll promise you,” Sherman said. Rossley had an emergency angioplasty to clear a blocked artery last week and missed a win that ended the team’s longest losing skid since 1991. Rossley, 58, was back on the job Monday and said he felt pretty good but still a little weak.

Titans’ Brown OK

Nashville, Tenn. — Tennessee running back Chris Brown should be all right following a shoulder injury that knocked him out of the Titans’ loss to Houston, while Steve McNair’s chest is sore once again. Coach Jeff Fisher said Brown appeared to be OK Monday even though he was still sore. McNair, who spent two nights in the hospital with a bruised sternum last month, had soreness in his chest lower than his previous injury.