It’s been a long time since we’ve seen Darren McFadden on a football field, but his coach feels confident that the wait won’t stretch through this year’s offseason activities.
Dennis Allen isn’t allowed to work with players on the field until later this month. He said that he’s been hearing good things about McFadden’s status from the team’s strength and conditioning coaches, however.
“I am told that he’s back and ready to go,” Allen said, via Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle.
McFadden didn’t play after Week Seven last season because of a foot injury. He revealed earlier this week in a radio interview that it was a Lisfranc injury, but said that he isn’t planning to change his style in light of the injury.
The Raiders might want to make sure that’s the best course of action. With Michael Bush in Chicago, the team isn’t quite as well stocked in the backfield as they were last season. Mike Goodson came over in a trade and Taiwan Jones will be in his second year, but neither one has quite the resume that Bush took with him to the Bears.
If everyone’s healthy, the Raiders could have an explosive offense next season. McFadden’s status will have a lot to do with making that happen.