Despite having a strong performance throught training cap, McFadden will have to sit out the Raiders' preseason opener at Dallas on Thursday. This past Saturday, McFadden injured his left hamstring while trying to accelerate on a run.
As hard as it is for the third year running back to miss the first preseason game, McFadden wants to err on the side of caution. After being plagued by toe, shoulder and knee injuries throughout his first two seasons in the NFL, McFadden is looking to begin a healthy campaign in 2010. Rather than risk aggravating the injury, McFadden is going to take it easy until he fully recovers.
"It's one of those things, you don't want to be out there on it, make it any worse than what it is," he said. "You want to make sure it's all the way healthy before you do because it's a hamstring, something that can nag you for a whole year."
He's not about to risk sabotaging his 2010 season, especially since he's expected to emerge this year and become the star caliber back that he was back in Arkansas. Coach Tom Cable is looking for either McFadden or Bush to step and be the go-to every down back that the Raiders need.
Since being selected fourth overall in the 2008 NFL Draft, McFadden has not lived up to expectations, much of this due to injuries sustained during his first two years. He's managed only 856 yards, with a mediocre 3.9 yards-per-carry average.
Tthe Raiders are looking forward to see what sort of production they can get out of the former college star, under the direction of new offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. McFadden sounds optimistic about the new system that Jackson has implemented...
"He put a lot of different things in, a lot of different runs," McFadden said. "The last couple years we mostly ran outside zone, inside zone. He's added a lot of downhill runs and things for us. It's something that we're looking forward to."
