PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAIDERS : Skrepenak Makes a Lot of Progress

Greg Skrepenak will spend this Thanksgiving morning jogging around the practice field at the Raiders’ El Segundo training headquarters.

And for that, he couldn’t be more thankful.

For a while, running was out of the question for the second-year offensive tackle. So was walking.

Skrepenak suffered a broken bone and dislocation in his left ankle in an August exhibition game against the Cowboys.

What really hurt was that Skrepenak, a 1992 second-round draft choice out of Michigan, felt as if he was just starting to adjust to the pro game.

His initial optimism was quickly dimmed when he was told he couldn’t even bear weight on the injured ankle.

So Skrepenak sat and hoped his season wouldn’t end on the injured list.

Instead, the Raiders kept him on the roster while he endured months of rehabilitation.

“It’s been a long time,” Skrepenak said. “But I’m thankful for what God has given me. I’ve learned to be humble. I’ve learned you can’t take anything for granted. It can end for you on any play.”

Skrepenak hopes to begin practicing with the team in a few weeks and be available to play in another month.

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Bengal quarterback Jay Schroeder is expected back in Cincinnati today. Schroeder, a former Raider, had flown home to California last week to be with his young son, who had an undisclosed illness. The younger Schroeder is now doing “quite well,” according to Bengal Coach Dave Shula. The Raiders play the winless Bengals Sunday at Cincinnati. . . . Defensive lineman Howie Long was sent home Wednesday with flu.