D.J. Hayden is on an unfortunate track.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Tuesday, via team sources, that it appears the Oakland Raiders cornerback is headed towards starting the season on the reserve/physically unable to perform list. The team will know this week, according to Rapoport.
Hayden underwent foot surgery for a stress fracture in late July, he's been on the PUP list since. The Raiders hoped he would come off the list before he was forced to miss the first six games.
The No. 12 overall pick in 2013 has been a disaster thus far, mainly due to his inability to stay healthy. He played in just eight games as a rookie, starting two, and got torched often in those opportunities.
The Raiders had been counting on Hayden to emerge as an impact player in his second season, but instead have been dealt another setback.
Gregg Rosenthal pointed out in Around The League's Raiders season preview that the secondary is one of Oakland's chief concerns.
General manager Reggie McKenzie spent the offseason signing 49ers castoffs Tarell Brown and Carlos Rogers. Charles Woodson is savvy, but he has clearly lost a step. And now Hayden will likely miss at least the first six games of the season.
Rapoport noted that the team is fine with starting the second-year corner on the PUP list because they want him healthy and comfortable. The move also delays making a decision on one of their younger corners, Neiko Thorpe and T.J. Carrie, both whom have a shot to make the team. Oakland believes it finally has some depth at the position.
The hard truth of the matter is that a player McKenzie took a chance on at No. 12 overall has been a washout thus far. Bad teams with thin rosters don't improve when top-15 picks bomb out time and again.
The latest "Around the League Podcast" recaps all of the action from the second week of the preseason.
