Oakland Raiders RB Darren McFadden Looks to Return Strong From Injury

– Aug 3, 2012

The Oakland Raiders continued training camp this week, keeping in perspective the health of the their top running back Darren McFadden. The team is hoping he can show his teammates and the rest of the NFL what he’s truly made of, and finish up a season without any injuries.

This offseason in Oakland, many changes have taken place. A great development to watch has become the well-being of the Raiders returning star McFadden in full strength ready to take on what’s in front of him this season.

McFadden is looking healthy in training camp, showing the speed and ability. He's trying to maintain what it takes to be one of the most potent backs in the NFL when healthy.

The issue for McFadden in becoming one of true top backs in NFL the past few years was his health issues. In the four years he has been in the NFL, he's missed a total of 19 games with, foot, toe, shoulder, knee and hamstring injuries..

McFadden said when asked how to avoid injuries:

“If somebody’s got an answer for it I would love for them to tell me because I need that.”

On Oct 23 of last season his most recent injury came in a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs while he was catching a pass. in fact, the same game Carson Palmer made his debut as quarterback for the Raiders.

At first it was described as a sprained right foot and he would be week-to-week. Eventually, after running further tests were made, it was actually more serious and the injury resulted in a Lisfranc injury that cost McFadden to miss the final nine games of the season. This may have been one of the missing pieces that held the Raiders from making playoffs last season.

McFadden is beginning to look like his normal self, if not stronger. He began running again in April.

“I just want to come out there and pick up where I left off. The type of injury that I had is something that set me down for a long time. A lot of people may think it’s hard to bounce back and get back in the flow of things, but for me, once I’m out there on the field, I feel like I’m at home, so I just get out there and try to pick up where I left off.”

Prior to the injury last season, McFadden was off to a great start. He led the NFL with 610 yards rushing through six games it seemed at one point he had good chance to have 1,800-yard season. McFadden additionally had 129 yards receiving and scored five total touchdowns as the Raiders opened the season with a winning record of 4-2.

He is a big-play, multi-dimensional power back drafted in first round by the Raiders in 2008 who began to first truly shine topping 100 yards eight times in a 15-game span between 2010-2011.

Dennis Allen had this to say about McFadden:

“I think we all understand that he’s an explosive playmaker for us and we need him to be healthy for the entire season,”

The teams dependable back-up running-back Michael Bush has moved on, a healthy McFadden now seems even more critical with Mike Goodson and Taiwan Jones battling for the backup spot.  

For the Raiders in 2011, one of the biggest disappointments was that the team never had chance to completely gel together and run their offense at full power to see their full potential.

This coming season with the new era of Raiders football in place, Palmer's deep-strike passing skill set, a flock of young and speedy receivers on the outside and a fresh and fit McFadden in the backfield, Oakland has all the elements of winning offensive unit. 

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