Gareon Conley still missing Raiders training camp practices with hip strain

For the second straight day of training camp this year Gareon Conley was not on the field. There were four players working on the side with trainers and he was not among them. That suggests that his injury is not even to the point where he can do light work. Defensive Coordinator Paul Guenther shed some light on what’s going on with Gareon.

“He’s got a little hip strain there,” said Guenther. “It’s unfortunate. He made a good play on a ball in a one-on-one drill and just bumped his hip a little bit. He won’t be out too long.”

Most fans are probably pretty skeptical when any coach says Conley will be back in short order. We were told that in last year’s camp and he missed the entire thing. Even when he aggravated the injury in the third game, the team kept him on the roster half the season as if they thought he would be able to return before shutting him down for the season.

In his place with the first team has been Daryl Worley who was signed as a free agent this offseason after he was cut by the Eagles. Worley is an experienced corner, having started 25 games for the Panthers over the past two seasons. He was traded to the Eagles and not long after, was arrested on several charges including DUI.

Conley looked great on his first day of camp before the hip injury. Just as he looked great in minicamp before suffering a groin injury. And just as he looked promising last year before being lost for the season to a shin injury. He was supposed to start across from new cornerback Rashaan Melvin. This new injury complicates things.

“Gareon is a very talented football player,” said Melvin. “A young guy, long guy. His skillset is unbelievable. There’s high expectations for both of us. I feel like we could be one of the best defensive back groups in the league, so that’s what we’re aiming for. That’s our main goal to come out here and practice hard and get better.”

Since being drafted, Conley has spent more time trying to get better from the vantage point of the training room and the film room.

“We’re going to try to get him back on the field and make sure he’s in the meeting rooms taking notes and understanding that he’s not getting behind with the techniques and what we’re teaching,” said Guenther.

Conley should be pretty used to this process by now.