Raiders' Hayden on sideline after surgery
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Oakland Raiders rookie cornerback D.J. Hayden was at practice as a spectator Monday, one week after surgery to remove scar tissue from his abdomen.
Hayden, the Raiders' first-round draft pick, will miss this week's three-day organized team activities as well as next week's mandatory full-roster minicamp. The team will then adjourn until training camp begins July 25.
Then plan is for Hayden to be ready to play by that time. The abdominal issue is believed to be related to major surgery Hayden had in November to repair a torn inferior vena cava, a vein that brings blood to the heart.
"Everything went fine," Allen said in assessing Hayden's latest surgery. "Everything was kind of as we had hoped and anticipated. It's a little bit of uncharted waters, but we still feel comfortable he'll be ready to go before we start training camp. It's 51 days from now until we start. We're confident he'll be back and ready."
--With leading receiver Brandon Myers having left in free agency to the New York Giants, third-year tight ends David Ausberry and Richard Gordon, along with rookie sixth-round draft pick Mychal Rivera, are attempting to fill the void.
Rookie Nick Kasa, a fourth-round selection and converted defensive lineman, has been slowed by a hamstring injury.
"I think it's pretty wide open," Allen said of the tight end position. "I think those guys are doing a nice job," Allen said. "It's hurt not having Kasa out there. He was a guy we anticipated being able to step in and potentially fill a role for us.
"The big thing is consistency. Those guys are going to make mistakes, we all understand that. The key is can they learn from their mistakes and not be repeat offenders?"
--Cornerback Tracy Porter, out for the previous OTA with a calf injury, was back on the field lining up both outside and at slot corner. Porter is still wearing No. 24. Free safety Charles Woodson is wearing No. 2, the number he wore at Michigan, but he cannot wear it during the regular season.
"There's always an open door to negotiating," Porter said. "Everything will work itself out. It's not like we've got a game tomorrow."
