Gareon Conley is eager for a fresh start. Count him among the Raiders most excited by the opportunity to play football again when the Raiders gather for training camp later this month.
Conley, the former Ohio State All-America cornerback who missed almost all of 2017 with a shin injury, is expected to start as the team’s No. 1 corner this season.
While almost everything that could go wrong did go wrong for Conley last season – the injury, an accusation of sexual assault (which a grand jury eventually dismissed) and then a change in coaching staffs – he’s now healthy and showing the Raiders a ton of potential. New head coach Jon Gruden loves him.
“It’s been a dark world that he’s been in, this young man,” Gruden told Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com recently. “He’s had a terrible injury he had to rehab from, he’s had to change coaches, learn a new system and it’s been a slow and steady progress. But man, is he a good player. When he’s feeling good, you can see why we picked him (in the first round).”
Conley and veteran pickup Rashaan Melvin are expected to give Oakland a solid pair of corners, with veteran Leon Hall the likely nickel corner.
Conley suffered a mild groin strain during the recent full-squad minicamp in June, but it’s expected to be fully healed by the time players report on July 26.
Conley said dealing with the injury last season was frustrating. He wanted to be on the field, yet appeared in just two games.
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“It was really difficult because I’ve never been hurt,” he told reporters. “It was like the first time that I’ve really been hurt and where I’ve missed time. I didn’t feel right. I feel like that played a part in the lingering injury, too, because mentally I wasn’t there all the way.”
Now, however, Conley -- who recently filed a suit against the woman who accused him of assault -- can’t wait to show what he can do on the field over a full season.
“I feel like it’s my second year mentally and just knowing the game and all the logistics,” he told Gutierrez. “But physically, I feel like it’s my rookie year again because I didn’t play a lot. It’s going to be challenging. I don’t feel like it’s going to be that difficult, though. I feel like I can lead by example more than just vocally.”
New defensive coordinator Paul Guenther loved what he saw of Conley at Ohio State. He believes Conley can be an excellent NFL cornerback.
“He was my favorite corner coming out (for the 2017 draft),” said Guenther. “His ability, he’s smooth in the (back)pedal, he’s a good press corner, which we love to have. I’m excited to work with him.”
