Raiders top two draft picks placed on non-football injury list

No sooner did the Raiders get their top two 2013 draft picks signed, but they are put on the shelf. D.J. Hayden and Menelik Watson were both placed on the reserve non-football injury list. The designation is given to someone who is not healthy because of an injury the player suffered not related to football.

This isn't like being put on the PUP list because each player can be taken off the NFL list at any time pending passing a physical.

Hayden's status was in question all along due to the surgery he had two months ago to remove scar tissue from his abdomen. Dennis Allen had said Hayden would be ready to go for camp. It's possible his recovery from the surgery is complete but he has not had time to get back in shape. It was assumed he would be brought along slowly regardless.

Watson's injury is not yet known. It's not a good start to his NFL career. He was already going to be in a battle with incumbent starter, Khalif Barnes, at right tackle. He needs all the practice time he can get.

Hopefully Dennis Allen can shed some light on the injuries in his press conference following Friday's practice.