ALAMEDA -- The Raiders' top draft pick is finally back on the practice field. First-round cornerback Gareon Conley passed a physical and was formally activated off the physically unable to perform list in time for Tuesday's practice.
A shin injury suffered in the team's June minicamp kept this year's No. 24 overall pick out of training camp and three exhibition games, delaying his development and integration into a struggling Raiders secondary.
Conley was not made available for comment.
Conley was limited Tuesday in the only practice leading into Thursday's exhibition versus Seattle, making it extremely unlikely Conley plays that game.
The Raiders hope he'll be active against the Tennessee Titans, but ge won't have much prep work. The Raiders won't practice again until next week, when they'll conduct three full sessions before the Sept. 10 regular-season opener in Nashville. That's a tight schedule, one the team hopes is enough to contribute to a suspect secondary.
Conley was the primary slot cornerback during the offseason program, but there's a real opportunity to play in the base defense. Sean Smith lost grip on a starting spot with a horrible start to training camp and the preseason slate. TJ Carrie hasn't fared well in his stead, following a solid camp with two subpar preseason performances. Expecting Conley to find peak production right away is unfair, though the Ohio State product is a premium talent and should upgrade the secondary when he joins the lineup.