Back in March, a video surfaced on social media of Raiders return specialist Andre Debose looking like a star in agility drills.
The former Florida standout, who lost his first year in the NFL due to an Achilles’ tendon tear in 2015, looked quick, nimble and completely healthy in the video, giving rise to optimism that he could be the team’s answer to their return woes in 2016.
After all, the seventh-round pick in the 2015 draft had been a game-breaker for the Gators, returning four kickoffs and a punt for touchdowns.
After the Raiders drafted Debose, he told reporters he wanted to play both receiver and have a chance to return kicks and punts and was confident his talents would translate to the NFL.
“I think I can make my impact a lot on the return game,” he said.
But now there’s a chance Debose may never play a game for the Raiders.
Debose has suffered another, undisclosed injury and the Raiders this week waived him as injured and then placed him on injured reserve, meaning his season has ended even before the end of organized team activities (OTAs). It was in OTAs last season that Debose tore his Achilles’ tendon.
Raiders
The Raiders had hoped Debose would be able to add some life to Oakland’s mediocre return game, which ranked 17th in kickoffs in 2015 (23.9 yard average, no TDs) and 28th on punts (6.5 yards, no scores).
Running back Taiwan Jones was the Raiders’ No. 1 kickoff returner last season, averaging 26.7 yards on 31 returns, and he could fill that role again in 2016. Jones has speed, as he showed on one 70-yard return.
But the punt-return job is much less clear. Defensive back TJ Carrie led the team with 19 returns (6.2-yard average). According to Levi Damien of SB Nation, undrafted rookies Antonio Hamilton, a defensive back from South Caroloina State, and Joe Hansley, a wide receiver from Colorado State, shared punt-fielding duties during recent OTA sessions.
Hansley may have some promise as a punt returner. In one game against Fresno State in 2015, Hansley returned two punts for TDs. The 5-foot-10, 180-pounder returned 21 punts in 2015 for a 12.8-yard average. He had three punt-return TDs in his college career.
“I think I have a good chance to make an impact in the return game,” Hansley told the Coloradoan newspaper after signing with Oakland. “I believe they trust me to catch the ball, and ultimately that’s what they want back there. I’m optimistic and I’m excited about my opportunities.”
