For the NFL's oldest active player, it's still a thrill.
Vince Evans will start for Oakland Monday night when the Raiders play the San Diego Chargers at Jack Murphy Stadium. It will be the second start this season for the 40-year-old quarterback.It is only the third start for Evans in a non-strike game since 1984, and it comes because starting Raider quarterback Jeff Hostetler is sidelined with a bruised left shoulder and cracked bone in his left hand.
"I'm really stoked about it," Evans said of the chance to start. "This is an opportunity for us as a team to redeem ourselves from the last Monday night game."
Evans was referring to the Raiders' 27-0 loss to the Broncos in Denver on Oct. 16 in their only previous Monday night game this season. Hostetler was injured that night, suffering a fractured cartilage in his throat, which began a streak in which he has been injured in four straight appearances.
After that game, Evans was called upon to start against Indianapolis on Oct. 22, and he earned AFC offensive player of the week honors, completing 23 of 35 passes for 335 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-17 Raider win.
Evans, who came into the NFL in 1977 with the Chicago Bears, moved to the United States Football League in 1984 and 1985, and was out of football when signed by the Raiders in 1987 during the Players Association strike.
He has remained with the Raiders as a backup since then, although released often and regularly competing for a job in training camp.
"I'm thankful for the chance any time I'm called upon," Evans said.
Raiders coach Mike White said the decision to start Evans was made Thursday after Hostetler was held out of practice for three days.
Hostetler originally bruised his left shoulder Nov. 12 against the New York Giants, then left last Sunday's game against Dallas when he was slammed to the ground by defensive lineman Chad Hennings late in the second quarter.
White said Hostetler would not be the starter, but might be the backup. The Raiders' third quarterback is Billy Joe Hobert, a three-year NFL veteran with no regular-season playing time.
The Raiders have rallied around Evans in the past and consider him a team leader.
Said Pro Bowl wide receiver Tim Brown: "We're very confident Vinnie can get the job done and if we have to go the rest of the year with him, that's fine."