The Oakland Raiders took two risks in the first round of the NFL draft last month, one being the trade down with the Miami Dolphins to number 12 from three and hoping the player they wanted was still there, and two being that the pick they liked in D.J. Hayden was coming into the NFL after having a serious heart issue in college.
Following the draft the team felt good about the pick and while they still continue to do so, the team has to worry a bit as the star cornerback is getting abdominal surgery to have scar tissue removed and will be out until training camp, according to NFL.com. The number 12 pick in the draft will be out until training camp at least and according to sources, the injury was in fact related to the heart surgery he had last year.
General manager Reggie McKenzie said that Hayden was still recovering from surgery and that he went under the knife last week, while Coach Dennis Allen said they were not sure or not if the injury had to do with the issues last year that almost killed Hayden. While at Houston Hayden tire a blood vessel off his heart during a practice in November that almost killed him. After being taken with the 12th pick, the team said that the old injury would not be an issue. Allen did not give any details about the injury and said that Hayden was fine throughout rookie practices and workouts last week.
Allen said that Hayden is on track to return for training camp and many concluded that the chances of his old injury being an issue were the same as before he had the heart problem anyway and he was cleared by doctors. Hayden complained of stomach pain and that was why the procedure went down and the Raiders are hoping that he will be fine for training camp, as he was expected to compete for a starting job with newly signed free agents Mike Jenkins and Tracy Porter. Charles Woodson will be playing at safety but he has already said he plans to take the young star under his wing and teach him the game. The fans have also been excited about rookie Tyler Wilson, who many think can push quarterback Matt Flynn to start in 2013.
