Raiders coach Tom Cable selected JaMarcus Russell as the team’s starter on Sunday in what turned out to be an anticlimactic ending to a quarterback competition.

The job was always Russell’s to lose against veteran newcomer Jeff Garcia, who has missed much of training camp due to a calf injury, making today’s announcement almost a formality.

“I think we’re fortunate he’s getting better,” Cable told reporters during a conference call. “He’s progressing the way you want him to. Not perfect yet. I’d say, at this point, he’s the quarterback of the Oakland Raiders.”

Russell completed 7 of 11 passes for 76 yards and a touchdown in Saturday’s preseason loss to the 49ers, while Garcia got his first action of the preseason, finishing 3-of-6 for 18 yards and an interception.

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