Darren McFadden undergoing tests

In an effort to try to return this season from his LisFranc injury, Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden has been undergoing CT scans, MRIs and X-rays on his foot and consulting with Dr. Robert Anderson this week, according to a league source.

McFadden is considered unlikely to play Saturday at Kansas City but has not surrendered hope of playing against the San Diego Chargers in the regular-season finale or in the postseason if the the Raiders can make it there.

Oakland (7-7) likely needs to win its last two games and hope for losses from other teams to sneak into the playoffs as either the AFC West champion or a wild card. The Raiders' hopes for an AFC West title would end if they lose to the Chiefs and the Denver Broncos (8-6) beat the Buffalo Bills on Saturday. The New York Jets (8-6) currently hold the last wild-card spot and the Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) and Tennessee Titans (7-7) are ahead of Oakland in the pecking order for that last spot if the Jets were to falter.

The fact that McFadden is even attempting to play speaks to his toughness; other players this season, including Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, already have seen their seasons end due to LisFranc injuries.

What Anderson told McFadden after he looked at the test results on the foot is that it is about managing the pain when the injury clearly still is not fully healed. McFadden spoke with Anderson on Tuesday after undergoing his CT scan last Tuesday.

McFadden initially needed crutches to get around and wore a protective walking boot while making occasional appearances at practice.

On Tuesday, he had neither as he did some light jogging at practice.

Raiders coach Hue Jackson continues to hold out hope that McFadden can play again this season but not at the risk of aggravating his condition. He suffered a setback after attempting to jog last month, so Jackson is taking a cautious approach.

"He just wasn't ready for that kind of work," Jackson said Tuesday. "We have to be very careful with that. We don't want to do anything that's going to jeopardize his career or his opportunity to play."

 

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