DAVIE, Fla. – Quarterback Brian Griese will start for the second consecutive week for the Miami Dolphins when they play Indianapolis on Sunday.

Griese made his season debut against San Diego on Monday night, throwing for 192 yards and three touchdowns in Miami’s 26-10 win.

“Right now he gives us the best chance to win,” coach Dave Wannstedt said Wednesday.

Jay Fiedler, who started Miami’s first six games, was listed as questionable because he sprained his knee two weeks ago in the Dolphins’ 19-13 overtime loss to New England. Fiedler was in uniform Monday night but was designated the No. 3 quarterback.

Fiedler took some snaps with the first team Wednesday. His knee has improved but is not 100 percent, Wannstedt said.

Redskins sign

troubled DT Russell

ASHBURN, Va. – Deciding the need was worth the risk, the Washington Redskins signed defensive tackle Darrell Russell to a one-year, $790,000 contract Wednesday.

Russell joins the team two days after he was reinstated by the NFL following a 11/2-year suspension for a second violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.

“We don’t have a lot to lose,” said coach Steve Spurrier, whose team has lost three straight.

The Redskins are in dire need of defensive line help. They cut Dan Wilkinson during the offseason, and Brandon Noble was lost for the season with a knee injury in training camp, leaving a patchwork of mostly career backups who haven’t stopped the run and have generated very little pass rush.

Russell, the No. 2 overall pick by Oakland in the 1997 draft, had 281/2 sacks in five seasons with the Raiders and made the Pro Bowl in 1998 and 1999. He remained under contract to the Raiders during his suspension, and they cut him Monday after it was lifted.

Last fall, prosecutors dropped rape charges against Russell, claiming they could not prove he videotaped a woman being raped by two of his friends in January 2002.

“We may take a bad hit PR-wise, but he’s not been convicted of the charge made against him,” Spurrier said. “There’s a lot of players in this league that have had a lot more serious charges than what he had. … He’s not in jail, is he? And the NFL says he can play. They’re pretty thorough on what can play and who can’t.”

Bills considering activating McGahee

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – The Buffalo Bills are leaning toward activating running back Willis McGahee next week even if the first-round draft pick is not immediately ready to play.

While a final decision has not been made, team president Tom Donahoe said Wednesday that placing McGahee on the active roster would be better than placing him on injured reserve and losing him for the rest of the season.

“We probably would be leaning that way,” Donahoe said. “We can activate him, but it doesn’t mean he has to dress. The thing that you probably do not want to do with Willis is put him back on IR (injured reserve) because then he can’t practice.”

McGahee is the former Miami star who spent the last 10 months recuperating after tearing three ligaments in his left knee, which he hurt in the Hurricanes loss to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

After opening the season on the nonfootball injury list, McGahee was cleared to practice with the Bills two weeks ago. Under NFL rules, Buffalo has 21 days – or in McGahee’s case, Nov. 5, – to determine whether to activate him.