The Raiders’ organized team activities are underway, and running back Darren McFadden is back in business for the first time since October.
McFadden, who suffered a season-ending Lisfranc injury in his right foot during the Raiders’ Week Seven loss to the Chiefs last season, was running, catching, cutting and doing every drill on the practice field today, Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times reports.
Corkran reported that McFadden was going strong throughout, including when he was sent deep on a fly pattern late in the practice.
McFadden had a strong 2010 season and appeared to be poised for an even stronger 2011 season before he got hurt. In the Raiders’ first six games he carried 111 times for 610 yards, an average of 5.5 yards a carry and a total that put him on pace for 1,627 yards for the season. (Maurice Jones-Drew led the league with 1,606 rushing yards last season.) If he’s healthy and back to last year’s form, the Raiders have one of the best running backs in the NFL.
Raiders coach Dennis Allen liked what he saw of McFadden.
“I thought he looked pretty good,” Allen said. “He’s out here running around and looks like he’s running full speed so I’ve been pleased with the way he’s looked.”