Arguably the biggest acquisition the Raiders made this offseason was signing veteran cornerback Casey Hayward Jr. The secondary needed a veteran presence in the worst way and Hayward has instantly become the team’s top defensive backs.
Despite missing some time with an injury in Week 2, Hayward was incredible. He was targeted three times but did not allow a single reception, according to Pro Football Focus.
#Raiders CB Casey Hayward Jr. was the team's highest-graded defender in Week 2 per @PFF.
He was targeted three times and allowed zero receptions.
He also had two PBUs and one tackle.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) September 20, 2021
Not surprisingly, Hayward graded out as the team’s top defensive player. Only Hunter Renfrow received a better overall grade than Hayward this week. It was just another strong performance by one of the league’s most consistent cornerbacks.
The injury status of Hayward is not yet known, but the expectation is that he doesn’t have a long-term injury. Should he be ready for Week 3, he will face two of the fastest receivers in the NFL in Will Fuller and Jaylen Waddle. But as Hayward has shown throughout his career, he will be ready for the challenge.
