Raiders rookie cornerback D.J. Hayden walked into the NFL with medical concerns, but a completely unrelated problem has ended his first season.
The Raiders placed the 12th overall pick on injured reserve, ending his season because of a groin injury, according to Scott Bair of CSNBayArea.com. He had surgery to repair a sports hernia Monday,
Hayden suffered a groin injury in practice on Nov. 6 — which was also the anniversary of the practice incident in college which nearly killed him. It was a year ago that day that he was hit in practice at the University of Houston and ruptured his inferior vena cava, a large vein near the heart.
Thankfully, the current problem pales in comparison. The Raiders waited two weeks before deciding to shut him down this year, ending a frustrating rookie season.
“I brought him in and spoke with him this morning, and I know he’s disappointed,” Raiders coach Allen said last week. “He wants to be out there playing. With the injury, he’s not able to do that.”
And now, he won’t be able to until next year.