Keith McGill off PUP list after return to practice on Sunday

Jun 10, 2014; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders cornerback Keith McGill (39) at organized team activities at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Following DJ Hayden’s injury going from a rolled ankle to a proper diagnosis of a stress fracture that required minor surgery before training camp, 2014 draft pick Keith McGill was pegged as a player who could step up in the place of the 2013 first round pick in Hayden. Blessed with tremendous size in addition to skill, McGill’s success at Utah led to considerable hype as a mid-round sleeper as a player who fits the mold of the new age cornerback.

That led to a scare during the Raiders conditioning testing before practices when Keith McGill was one of two players to go on the PUP list during the testing along with Usama Young. Luckily for McGill, the injury was minor enough that the former Utes star was able to return in time for the team’s first padded practice on Sunday.

McGill will be competing with fellow rookie TJ Carrie for any potential extra preseason and regular snaps that will be available behind veterans Tarell Brown, Carlos Rogers and the second year first rounder Hayden so the return of the rookie in training camp is a boost for him as well as the team. Many consider McGill a player who compares well to former Seattle Seahawks cornerback Brandon Browner in size and physicality, but the rookie needs to adjust to the speed of the NFL to be a consistent contributor. If he and Carrie can learn on the fly the Raiders depth at corner should be considerably better compared to last season where things fell apart at the end of the year. It starts with staying on the field and avoiding injuries, something that McGill will be trying to do after slightly hurting himself during the conditioning test.