It’s appearing more and more likely the Raiders could be getting top pick cornerback Gareon Conley back on the field. As of last week, he had begun doing work on the side, which was a major step in his progress toward a return from a shin injury he suffered in OTA’s in June.

Head coach Jack Del Rio spoke on Conley’s status following the Raiders third preseason game in Dallas Saturday night.

“I’m hopeful,” Del Rio said of the prospect of Conley returning to practice this week. “He continues to work on the side. Ran today again, so it’s encouraging. He’s coming. It’s just a matter of when it’s the right time.”

Conley spent the entirety of training camp watching from the sideline. At the conclusion of camp Del Rio gave somewhat of a timetable for when Conley must be back in order to be ready for the regular season opener on September 10.

“The next couple of weeks will be huge,” Del Rio said. That was ten days ago.

Should he return to practice by Tuesday, that would slide right under two weeks from camp and give him two weeks of practice to prepare for the start of the season. And the Raiders can sure use his help.