LOS ANGELES _ Tragedy struck Casey Hayward's family for the second straight year when Jecaives Hayward, younger brother of the Los Angeles Chargers' All-Pro cornerback, was killed in an automobile accident late Monday on Interstate 75 in Macon, Ga.
Hayward _ whose mother, Tish, died in July 2016 after battling breast cancer _ left the team Tuesday to return to Georgia. Fellow cornerback Trevor Williams said Hayward had said he planned to return Friday and play in Sunday's game against the Cleveland Browns.
But the Chargers aren't banking on the return of Hayward, a lock-down defender who has three interceptions in the last two games and is the highest-graded cornerback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus.
"I told him he needs to go home and be with his family," coach Anthony Lynn said. "If Casey makes it back and plays, that's great. If he doesn't, then we certainly understand. ... Sometimes you get home and things change. He may have more on his plate than he thought. I told him to take care of things at home, and we'll take care of this."
According to a Bibb County Sheriff's news release, Jecaives Hayward, 27, was a passenger in a car that struck a tractor trailer in the emergency lane Monday at 11:46 p.m.
He died after being ejected from the vehicle and struck by cars. Driver Raymond Cox, 29, and passenger Oker Smith, 32, were hospitalized and are in stable condition.
Williams spoke to Casey Hayward on Tuesday and said, "It seemed like he was in positive spirits. He's handling it well. I wouldn't have been able to do the same thing. Prayers out to him."
Lynn said if Hayward does not return, Michael Davis would start at cornerback with rookie Desmond King remaining in the slot in nickel packages.
