Darren McFadden dropped the ball against the Denver Broncos, literally and figuratively. Three times. The lingering effect has made for a long week for the Raiders’ second-year running back.

“I can’t even lie, it’s been hard for me this week because I’ve been thinking about it,” McFadden said Wednesday. “That’s something you just have to try and shake it off, come back from it in the next game. It’s all about having a short memory.”
McFadden has experience shaking off fumbles. He fumbled 23 times during his three-year career at Arkansas, including 15 his final season. He has seven fumbles in 16 games as a Raider.
Raiders coach Tom Cable said ball security is stressed during practice every day, and that it’s something McFadden has to work on even harder. The fumbles against the Broncos do nothing to cause Cable to lose faith in McFadden as the lead back.
“Darren brings a lot to the table,” Cable said. “He would be the first to tell you, just like I’m sitting here telling you, ball security is the number one thing in this game.”
McFadden said he is guilty of “falling back into a bad habit,” and that he needs to be more conscious of protecting the ball.
“Yeah that’s what it mainly is,” McFadden said. “If you don’t think about it much, just going out there running, it doesn’t have to be a big hit. It’s just as simple as a guy knocking it when they’re tackling you, and the ball just comes out.”
He said his bad game is behind him.
“I don’t feel like it can get any worse than this,” McFadden said. “It can only go up from here.”
—Cable said, “I have no comment about any of that,” when asked about the NFL.com report Monday that defensive assistant Randy Hanson told a Napa Police Dept. investigator that it was Cable who struck him in the face and broke his jaw Aug. 5 in training camp.
The Napa police are investigating the incident that required Hanson seeking medical attention and led to his being removed from his duties with the Raiders. The NFL also is conducting an investigation.
Hanson’s attorney, John McGuinn, called the matter “a textbook case of felony assault.” Cable has said in the past that “nothing happened,” and “when all the facts come out, everything will be fine.”
—Cable said the Raiders aren’t pursuing quarterback Jeff Garcia, who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday.
—Safety Mike Mitchell (thumb) was limited in practice. Safety Michael Huff (quadriceps) missed practice. Both are expected to play Sunday, Cable said.
Wide receivers Chaz Schilens (foot) and Johnnie Lee Higgins (shoulder) did not practice.
—The Raiders re-signed cornerback/kick returner Justin Miller less than a month after he was released. He will return kickoffs Sunday against the Houston Texans.
—Cornerback John Bowie was placed on injured reserve to make room for Miller on the 53-man roster. Bowie sustained a knee injury against the Broncos on Sunday. He spent all of 2008 on injured reserve.
— The Raiders signed offensive lineman Brandon Rodd to their practice squad. He was with the Raiders in training camp in 2008 but was released before the season started.