ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - When Charles Woodson and Derrick Gibson went down with first-quarter injuries, the Oakland Raiders were forced to rely on rookies and special teams players to fill the holes in the secondary.

The inexperienced players stepped up against Buffalo on Sunday, contributing to Oakland's 38-17 victory.

But coach Norv Turner will have to count on much more from players like Fabian Washington, Stanford Routt and Jarrod Cooper starting this week against Tennessee with Woodson and Gibson possibly out for two months.

``Our guys stepped up great. We had some young guys going in and play like they've been playing a long time even though they haven't,'' Turner said Monday. ``We just need to get those guys going, get them in there where they understand what they're doing. ... Those guys have been playing, and they've been getting reps, they've been getting 20 plays a game, 25 plays a game. Now they're just going to have to play an entire game.''

Woodson has a broken right leg that won't require surgery, Turner said. He broke the same leg in 2002 - slightly lower on the fibula - and missed three games before returning for the playoffs.

Gibson underwent surgery Monday to place pins in his dislocated left wrist. Both players will be sidelined six-to-eight weeks, Turner said, with the possibility of being placed on injured reserve and missing the rest of the season if their rehabs don't go well.

Woodson was the leader of Oakland's secondary, playing cornerback and safety. The four-time Pro Bowl selection is being paid about $10.5 million this season as the Raiders' franchise player, meaning he will get $619,823 for each game he misses.

With the Raiders unlikely to use their franchise tag on him for a third straight year and only 10 weeks left in the season, it's uncertain how much more will be seen of Woodson in an Oakland uniform.

``It's hard. He's given us everything he's got and he's competing at a high level and it's hard on him,'' Turner said.

The Raiders also lost Renaldo Hill with a slightly cracked bone in his hand, but Turner expects him to play this week.

The injuries left Oakland in situations with rookies Washington, Routt and Chris Carr on the field at the same time.

``I looked around and saw we had all three of the rookies in,'' said Washington, Oakland's first-round pick in April. ``And I said, 'Which is going to be the first one of us to get a pick?' And they just laughed.''

None of them got the interception but they weren't beaten much either, as the Bills made only eight first downs after their first drive.

Carr, who is primarily a kick returner and hadn't practiced at all in the secondary, broke up a pass. Cooper, a special teams standout, had two tackles on defense. Routt also made a big tackle in the open field to prevent a first down and the Bills didn't test Washington much.

``I think they did great,'' said Stuart Schweigert, now considered a veteran in just his second season. ``The Bills tried to exploit them a little bit, but Fabian was making plays, I thought Cooper was making the tackles on the tight end, Stanford Routt made a great tackle on third down. They stepped up and made plays when they needed to.''

Cornerback Denard Walker, who has been inactive all season, and safety Calvin Branch, who was re-signed last week after being cut before the season, could also get time this week.

The secondary was also helped out by the defensive front. Derrick Burgess had two sacks for the third straight game, Warren Sapp also had a sack, and Bills quarterback Kelly Holcomb said he doesn't remember ever being hit as much as he was Sunday.

``We just have to put more pressure on and our defense will have to gel really quick, even with the young guys out there,'' Burgess said. ``They'll be all right. They'll be OK. They held their own.''

In a positive sign, Randy Moss came out of Sunday's game without any further injuries. Moss caught three passes for 43 yards and a touchdown despite being slowed by bruised ribs, a strained groin and bruised pelvic area.

``Randy was no worse than he was,'' Turner said. ``And again, I think each day he'll continue getting better.''

Also, center Jake Grove said he expects to play Sunday against Tennessee after missing the last two games with an injured right knee.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.