Raiders running back Roy Helu Jr. had surgery on one hip and is set for a procedure on the other one, a league source told CSNCalifornia.com on Monday afternoon.
The goal is to remove hip impingements and enhance flexibility in the rusher’s joints.
ESPN's Adam Caplan was first to report this story.
These surgeries are expected to help Helu regain the power and burst he seemed to lack in his first year in Oakland. The Danville native signed a two-year, $4.1 million contract last offseason, but never got into the mix running the football.
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Helu dealt with hamstring issues during the preseason, but was a healthy scratch for a large portion of the regular season. Helu active for nine games and had just 39 yards on 17 carries. He averaged 2.3 yards per carry after averaging 5.4 ypc in 2014 and 4.4 ypc in 2013.
Helu also had nine catches for 75 yards and a touchdown.
Helu was expected to be a quality third-down option for the Raiders behind Latavius Murray. He is owed $1.9 million in base salary next season with a $100,000 workout bonus.
The Raiders are expected to import rushing talent this offseason. Latavius Murray had 1,066 yards in 2015, but quarterback Derek Carr was the team’s second leading rusher.
