Carson Palmer is getting hit and sacked more frequently than Jason Campbell was this season, and he makes no apologies for it.

The Raiders worked hard during training camp with Campbell on getting rid of the ball quicker and making faster decisions on whether to run and get away from trouble.

The result was that Campbell was getting sacked fewer times than at any point of his career, throwing 165 passes with just five sacks, or on 2.9 percent of his dropbacks.

Since Palmer arrived, he's been sacked 13 times and attempted 177 passes, a rate of 6.8 percent of the times he has dropped back to pass.

There are some mitigating factors, including the Raiders' stalled running game over the last two weeks and the fact that Oakland has put in more long-developing pass plays to take advantage of Palmer's deep arm.

But Palmer concedes that some of it has to do with his style. He'll risk a sack to get a completion.

"My entire career, I've held on to the ball, waited for the very last second to throw, waited for guys to get open,'' Palmer said. "It's kind of one of my strengths. Obviously my strength isn't taking off and running around the corner, running for 100 yards a game.

"It's something I've done for a long time and will continue to do."

Coach Hue Jackson doesn't sound overly concerned about sacks.

"Maybe he's been hit a little more the last couple weeks, but obviously I think our offensive line has played really

well thus far this year,'' Jackson said. "Sometimes it's a combination of things, not just the offensive line. Sometimes receivers have to get separation, the backs have to be a little better in protection, and sometimes he needs to get rid of the ball.''

Cornerback Chris Johnson returned to practice Thursday from Ft. Worth, Texas, where his sister was shot and killed and his mother wounded in a domestic dispute.

"People mourn differently," Jackson said. "Some guys want to be around their teammates and practice playing football because it takes your mind away from that. He's having a tough day, but the thing about him, he's tough. He's got brothers here to lean on."

Defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan called Tyvon Branch "the epitome of a Pro Bowl player," although conceding that the strong safety's total of one interception may not win a popularity contest in the fan portion of the voting.

"I think his peers know,'' Bresnahan said. "The guys that watch him play or play against him every Sunday know what Tyvon Branch does. It shows clearly on film. Anybody that knows football sees the impact that he has on a game."

Wide receiver Chaz Schilens got on the field and had limited participation after missing Wednesday's session with a foot injury. With fellow wide receivers Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford still out with foot injuries, losing Schilens would make the Raiders perilously thin at the position against Green Bay.

Campbell, who broke his right collarbone on Oct. 16, still is not throwing, but Jackson said he has no plans at present to put him on injured reserve, believing he can return in a reserve role before the end of the season.

Middle linebacker Rolando McClain doesn't plan on giving his side of the story regarding his arrest on four misdemeanor charges any time soon -- if ever.

"I'm done for the year, for the rest of my career," McClain said when reporters approached. "It was fun while it lasted."