Raiders rookie D.J. Hayden expected to be cleared for contact

Photo by Bob Carr

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 12, 2013

Raiders rookie cornerback and twelfth-overall selection D.J. Hayden hasn’t seen a padded NFL practice in which he has been cleared for contact, but that could change soon.

Raiders head coach Dennis Allen stated on Monday that Hayden is expected be cleared physically as soon as Friday, though he isn’t expected to play when the team takes on the New Orleans Saints on Friday.

“He won’t play this week,” Allen said of his young corner. “He should be cleared for contact on… really Friday is when he should be cleared for contact.”

Hayden was forced out of Offseason Team Activities after he had to have a surgery done in order to remove scar tissue from his abdomen after the nearly-fatal injury he suffered on the practice field last season at the University of Houston.

With the game on Friday, the first opportunity for Hayden to see his first contact is Sunday at 2:50 p.m. when the team returns to practice, though it isn’t known if the team will wear pads that day.

Allen also revealed that Hayden will likely see his first game action during the Raiders’ week three matchup at home against the Chicago Bears on Aug. 23.

“We’ll re-evaluate that with the doctors after that but the plan going forward I would anticipate is that he would be up and going for the Chicago game,” Allen said.

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