Rookie TE Clive Walford takes Raiders training camp field for first time

For the first time, Raiders rookie tight end Clive Walford took the field for training camp. He had been out all of training camp, which was nine practices, up to this point with an undisclosed injury.

The Raiders chose Walford in the third round of the draft out of Miami. He had been running as the first team tight end through OTA's and minicamp. While practicing in the pre-camp warm-up, he suffered the injury.

In his absence, incumbent starter, Mychal Rivera was the team's top tight end target in camp and the team's first depth chart, which was released on Monday, reflected that with newly added Lee Smith as the starter, Rivera second team, and Walford third team.

On Sunday, Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said Walford was "very close" to returning. In the days prior to that the big tight end had been catching passes on the side and looked like he was indeed close to returning.

Walford will have two practices to prepare for the team's first preseason game on Friday against the Rams and a total of seven practices before the Raiders break camp in Napa.