He passed for his first touchdown, threw his first interception (three overall), was sacked for the first time (twice overall), and played in a game away from the Coliseum for the first time.

His next first comes Sunday against the San Diego Chargers in both teams' regular-season finale at the Coliseum, when Russell is slated to start. His first three appearances came in relief of McCown.

Russell struggled, for the most part, against the Jacksonville Jaguars yesterday. So much so that coach Lane Kiffin said he didn't know where to begin with the laundry list of shortcomings.

"Ball handling in the run game, footwork in the passing game, decision-making, timing, accuracy, you name it, it was out there on film (Sunday)," Kiffin said today. "So he's got a long ways to go."

Perhaps most troubling, Kiffin said, was Russell's decision-making. Were it not for dropped balls, Russell should have had five interceptions, according to Kiffin.

"I haven't been around decision-making like that before, as far as just throwing the ball up across the field like he did a number of times," Kiffin said. "I'm sure that didn't help his confidence. Your first time playing an extended amount of time like that, to not have success can't help."

However, his teammates are in agreement that Russell needs all the playing time he can get between now and next season.

"I wish they'd just give him the reins and let him go," defensive tackle Warren Sapp said. "I mean, we are not in the playoffs or anything like that. Just go put him in there to get his licks. Let him go out there and learn trial by fire right now.

"It's about that time to let him go, let us see what he's got. Watching him work in practice every day, he has everything it takes to be an NFL quarterback. But there is nothing that is going to teach him this game except the game. Let's just let him play; that's my decision. Just let him play, let him go. Let's see what he does."

Sapp and others received an extensive look against Jacksonville. Kiffin is committed to seeing how Russell comports himself in yet another difficult setting, this time against the AFC West-champion Chargers.

It figures to be a stern test, at that. The Chargers are in contention for the No. 3 seed in the AFC Playoffs, which carries huge significance. The No. 3 seed would avoid the red-hot Jaguars in the first round and the undefeated New England Patriots in the AFC Championship game, assuming both teams made it that far.

McCown is on board with Kiffin's decision to play Russell as much as possible the rest of the way.

"I can understand that," McCown said. "If you're not playing for the playoffs this year, you play for the playoffs next year. ... Obviously, they selected that guy very high (No. 1 overall) and they have got to get him in there. Assuming he's the starter, you can't roll into next year and have him not played in games. You'd hate for that to happen.