Raiders DJ Hayden status in doubt for remainder off-season

Just when D.J. Hayden was optimistic about having a full off-season, deja vu strikes. In total we have seen Raiders second-year cornerback, D.J. Hayden at one practice this off-season. It was the first OTA in which he was fully healthy and the last time he was seen practicing with his teammates. At some point in the first week of OTA's, he went down with an ankle injury and has been in a walking boot ever since.

Last year, he attended the first OTA practice as well and then missed the rest of the off-season after having to  be rushed to the hospital to get scar tissue removed from his abdomen. He was available by the time training camp came around but spent most of it in a red non-contact jersey.

Now the third OTA's are underway and Hayden is still in his walking boot which means he will miss the entirety of the final two weeks of OTA's and it is very possible he will miss mandatory minicamp next week as well.

Dennis Allen was asked about Hayden's availability and his response was not optimistic.

"It's hard to tell," said Allen. "Initially I was hopeful of that. We're day by day with DJ. Hopefully we'll have him out here because he needs the work."

Hayden's absence from OTA's last year set him back in his development and his training camp status didn't help matter. He was a reserve corner, coming in the game in nickel situations, last season. He played in eight games before being placed on injured reserve with a groin injury.

The injuries are piling up already and the severity and recovery time are becoming a concern for his long term durability.

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