Oakland Raiders: 5 Observations From The First Week Of Camp

3. How quickly can D.J. Hayden get rid of the red “non-contact” jersey:

Jul 30, 2013; Napa, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden (25) stretches at training camp at Napa Valley Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Rookie corner back D.J. Hayden has been in a red jersey for all of the preseason following his surgery to remove scar tissue from his abdomen back in May. He was initial put on the non-football injury list, which head coach Dennis Allen said was more of a precaution than anything. Hayden has been an active participant in all of the team’s drills, minus the tackles and he can’t be hit during team work.

During the team’s third, first padded, practice, Hayden tried to sneak into a tackle drill. He was promptly removed by Allen. The next day, Hayden showed up to warms in a normal black jersey and it looked like he was ready to be upgraded to a full participant, but again he was spotted by Allen and was told to put the red jersey on.

It is interesting to see Hayden’s desire to get after it at full go, while the team is taking the slow, cautionary route. Often, after a severe injury like that a player will often hesitant to put themselves out there for fear of re-injury. It is common to see in players coming back from ACL injuries, as they will try to protect themselves instead of trusting their bodies. After they survive that first big hit, the player often feels much better and gets over that mental hump.

That is apparently what Hayden is attempting to do. He is trying to get that first big hit over with, so he could just get on with playing football. The Raiders are taking their precautions, because the is no prior history of a player returning with his specific injury. Hayden should be a full participant shortly, as they the team can only hold him back for so long.