Del Rio hints at timing around Conley's return

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GLENDALE, Ariz. – Reggie McKenzie and Gareon Conley played a round of “he said, he said,” recently.

That isn’t a game NFL teams generally like.

McKenzie said on July 31 that the first-round cornerback was on the physically unable to perform list with shin splints, though he didn’t know the particulars.

Conley tweeted Thursday that he didn’t have splints.

That added some uncertainty to the nature of his injury, though it might just be a difference in terminology. The Las Vegas Review Journal reported that Conley has a shin injury that is not shin splints.

Conley has posted about the mix up recently, saying on Twitter he wasn’t aware of what McKenzie said about the reports about his injury.

Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio addressed the issue after Saturday night’s 20-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

“There have been some questions about (Conley) and his tweet,” Del Rio said. “The biggest thing is that he’s working his butt off to get back. He’s doing everything we’re asking him to do. He’s been a model teammate, and he’s doing things exactly as he should be. He’s on the mend.

“…He’s going to be fine in a short amount of time, and that’s also a non-issue for me.”

Conley hasn’t practiced since the first day of a June mandatory minicamp, and has been on PUP since the Raiders have been in Napa. The No. 24 overall pick is expected to be the team’s nickel cornerback compete for a starting spot on the outside in the base defense.

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