Raiders ‘optimistic' Mario Edwards Jr can return healthy, his personal goals set much higher

Prior to the Raiders opening veteran minicamp in April, Mario Edwards will take a physical to see if he is fully healed from his neck injury that had him miss the latter part of last season. There has been a lot of concern about how serious the neck injury is and even if it could be career threatening.

With how much potential he showed as a rookie last season, there are a lot of people within the Raiders organization as well as among the fans who are very interested in his status. Earlier this month at the scouting combine, head coach Jack Del Rio spoke on whether Edwards will be able to return soon.

"We hope so," Del Rio said in an interview with Sirius XM radio. "We love Mario. Great young man, really had a nice year for us last year. He feels good and that will be determined at some point this offseason, but we remain optimistic."

But while we are collectively worried about if Edwards can even take the field again, let alone anytime soon, he is already setting goals for next season. Not just to return to the field, but to be named to the Pro Bowl in his second season.

Spoke with former #FSU and current Oakland #Raiders DE Mario Edwards Jr. today. Said his goal for next season is to make it to the Pro Bowl.

— Kenny Morales (@KennyMoralesTV) March 29, 2016

Edwards was on hand for the Florida State Pro Day where several of his former teammates worked out in front of NFL scouts in advance of next month's draft.