After returning three kickoffs for touchdowns and catching 25 passes for 470 yards and two scores in an impressive rookie season with the Raiders two years ago, wide receiver Jacoby Ford struggled through an injury-plagued sophomore season.
He missed much of camp with a broken hand. Then in the regular season, he missed two games with a hamstring injury and six with a sprained foot. He caught just 19 passes and returned one kick for a score. Approaching his third season, Ford is healthy again, and he plans to add punt returns to his workload. What’s more, Ford and quarterback Carson Palmer have already developed some chemistry in the passing game during training camp.
Carson said you two have really been getting in sync. How do you feel it’s been going with him?
Ford: “I think it’s been going extremely well. We’ve definitely been on the same page a lot lately. We’ve just kind of taken what we see from the practice film and just bringing it out here to the practice field and correcting any mistakes that we do have. Just kind of being in the right spot for him, especially down in the red zone, because he’s just taught to cut it loose. He’s definitely going on trust.”
Last year you had the broken hand in camp and you missed all that time. Do you realize now how much all this camp time means?
Ford: “It most definitely means a lot. You have to get game ready, to get in football shape. Just getting that chemistry with Carson going is definitely good. You go out there every day and you work with him. Just to have that camaraderie and that relationship with him makes it easy whenever we do get to the game.”
You had such an explosive rookie year. How do you look at your second year, just kind of derailed by injuries or do you still think you made progress?
Ford: “I think when I was healthy I was effective. The freak injuries, that was just something I couldn’t control. Definitely looking past that. That definitely was a tough season. ... Just focusing right now on Year 3 coming up.”
They have you listed as the No. 1 kick returner and No. 1 punt returner. You’re working first team at wide receiver now with Denarius Moore out, but you’ll play a lot regardless of who starts. Can you see kind of a Devin Hester-type role here?
Ford: “I can see a Jacoby Ford role. I can definitely see my own role when I come in. I’m definitely excited about doing punt returns. That’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time now. But since I’ve been here, I just wasn’t allowed to. Now that I’m going to definitely get the opportunity to do it, I’m going to make the best of the opportunity and definitely try to score or just set the offense up to have a short field.”
Do you feel the more times you get your hands on the ball the better?
Ford: “Anytime I get the ball in my hands I’m looking to score or set up a score. That’s definitely the mentality we have, regardless if we’re on offense or on special teams. We’re trying to have big plays all over the field.”
Follow Raiders reporter Eric Gilmore on Twitter: @CBSSportsNFLOAK.
