ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Many observers saw the Oakland Raiders’ selection of Jihad Ward in the second round of last month’s NFL draft as a reach, so to speak.
Especially when reports surfaced that Ward, who made the switch from receiver/safety to the defensive line in junior college and was rated by many as a third-rounder, may need arthroscopic knee surgery that would have kept him sidelined for six weeks.
Yet, there was the 6-foot-5, 296-pound defensive end on the practice field for the Raiders’ rookie minicamp this past weekend, seemingly not limited at all.