ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Raiders plan to place cornerback DJ Hayden on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury, potentially ending the former first-round pick’s stay in Oakland.
Hayden was injured on the second play in the fourth quarter of last week’s win against the Carolina Panthers and did not return. That ended an up-and-down season for the fifth-year player who had been playing mostly in nickel situations.
The 12th overall pick in 2013, Hayden has played only one full season due to a history of injuries after suffering a near-fatal heart injury prior to his senior year in college. Hayden missed eight games as a rookie because of a groin injury and sat out the first six games in 2014 with a foot injury.
Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie declined to pick up the option year on Hayden’s contract this past off-season, making him a free agent at the end of the season.
