The Oakland Raiders Summer of Euphoria was thoroughly enjoyed and lasted for a long time, but it’s September now.

JaMarcus Russell has been gone for months. The 2010 regular season is around the corner. The Raiders are still riding a historic streak of seven consecutive seasons with 11 losses or more.

And winning NFL games (or at least more than five per season) is about managing talent and overcoming obstacles, not celebrating the departure of a large and lazy quarterback.

The Raiders are better without Russell, no doubt, but are they good enough to get through the normal NFL issues?

Case in point: Running back Michael Bush was not at practice Tuesday, and tweeted that he underwent surgery on his broken left thumb.

Further case in point: Jason Campbell, Russell’s replacement, is still nursing his injured right wrist (and possibly the stinger he suffered in Saturday’s game against the 49ers) and did not appear to participate in Tuesday’s practice.

Which means Campbell, who was off the field before the media could try to speak to him, almost certainly will not play in Thursday’s exhibition finale against Seattle.

Neither injury seems serious at this point; I’d presume that both Campbell and Bush are good shots to play in the Sept. 12 opener at Tennessee.

But the Raiders, as is Al Davis’ cryptic nature, kept things interesting by refusing to give any updated information.

“No, I cannot,” coach Tom Cable said Tuesday, when asked if he could provide clarity on Campbell’s status. “I cannot.”

Add in receiver Chaz Schilens’ nagging injury woes, and it’s safe to say that the Raiders’ offense is experiencing a definite spate of misfortune.

Which they will overcome. Or not.

“For us, that’s part of being a professional,” said running back Darren McFadden, who would carry a larger burden if Bush is out. “You have to deal with injuries. You have to go out there and practice hard and just get better every day.

“If the coach wants to give it to me and put it in my hands 30 times, I feel like I’ll be able to do it.”

These sorts of developments are normal. It’s not a crisis. But things like this have instantly derailed previous Raiders teams; we’ll see what happens to this one.

Yep, all that happy Raiders talk about Campbell’s leadership and suggestions about the freeing effect of dispatching Russell was real and understandable.

But injuries are real, too, and so are tough opponents and uncertain game plans and a 16-game slugfest.

This is all most important because the Raiders have proven over the years that if they stumble early, they hardly ever get it back.

After the opener against the Titans, the Raiders host the awful Rams, so 2-0 is possible, 1-1 is the minimum requirement and 0-2 could set up another debacle.

Not surprisingly, the Raiders have been 2-6 at the midpoint in six of the last seven seasons. In 2005, they were 3-5.

They need a fast start if they have any chance of playoff contention or doing something crazy like actually making the playoffs.

“I actually believe that’s where we’re headed,” Cable said. “I have no doubt.”

Cable is not wrong to feel better about this team. Practically, this is the first season Cable has had a starting QB he can stand, which gives him his first real chance at this.

If Campbell can remain healthy. If there are enough weapons and blockers around the QB. If the defense holds up.

Euphoria is nice, but doesn’t win games. It’s what the Raiders do once the feeling wears off that really matters. Starting now.