Highlighting the Latest Injury News from NFL OTAs

Dealing with injuries in May is obviously preferable over being stung during the regular season, but several NFL teams have witnessed key players suffer injuries during organized team activities (OTAs) this week. 

Among those dealing with various ailments are Houston Texans running back Arian Foster, Oakland Raiders cornerback D.J. Hayden and two key contributors from the San Francisco 49ers, who lost receiver Michael Crabtree to a torn Achilles during last week's OTAs. 

In the following slides, we'll highlight the latest injury news emanating from OTAs this week. 

RB Arian Foster, Houston Texans

The Texans got a serious scare on the first play of team work Tuesday. 

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, Foster strained his right calf after taking a handoff with the first-team offense. He limped off the field and received treatment from the staff before later taking a cart to the locker room. 

Foster will have an MRI on the calf Wednesday, per McClain, and those results are expected to be released by head coach Gary Kubiak after the Texans' latest session ends today. As of now, it does not appear the organization is deeply concerned that Foster's injury is a serious one, although the MRI suggests team doctors are not taking the ding slightly. 

The calf would likely have to be torn for Foster to miss any time down the road. His 2013 OTAs are likely over, but the Texans can sleep easy knowing their bell-cow running back will be fine for the start of next season. 

CB D.J. Hayden, Oakland Raiders

The miraculous comeback story of D.J. Hayden has been presented with another hurdle. 

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Hayden had to undergo surgery late last week to remove scar tissue in his abdomen that is considered to be related to the emergency heart operation he had last year. 

The No. 12 overall pick felt "symptoms" last week and was admitted to the hospital for the operation. He will miss the rest of OTAs, but the Raiders are confident he can return by the start of training camp. 

Either way, the new surgery is a worrisome sign for the former Houston cornerback. Hayden nearly died last December after tearing his inferior vena cava, an important vein in the heart. Rookie minicamps and OTAs have been the first on-field action Hayden has seen since the life-threatening injury.

While it would be irresponsible to jump to conclusions, it's worth wondering if the after effects of such a major surgery and recovery will hamper Hayden throughout his NFL career. 

RB Frank Gore, LT Joe Staley, San Francisco 49ers

After losing top receiver Michael Crabtree to a torn Achilles last week, the 49ers are now dealing with two more dings to top players this week. 

According to Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News, running back Frank Gore will miss the rest of this week's OTAs with an undisclosed injury. 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh called it "working through a little something," but offered little more. 

An eight-year NFL veteran, Gore has little need to participate in workouts such as OTAs. For now, there doesn't appear to be any concern that his ailment is serious. 

A much bigger scare came down the line when it was learned Pro Bowl left tackle Joe Staley underwent a recent knee operation. 

However, the surgery does not appear to be a serious one.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, Staley had his knee scoped to fix a meniscus tear in his left knee. He will miss the remainder of OTAs but is expected to be completely healthy by the start of training camp. 

The 49ers will need both Gore and Staley healthy for what appears to be a fight to the death in the NFC West this season. For now, there's no need for concern on either front. 

S Kenny Phillips, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles inked Phillips to a modest one-year deal worth just $2 million this offseason, obviously with full knowledge of the veteran safety's career-long battle with knee injuries. 

During this week's OTAs, the Eagles held out Phillips because of the same knee. 

According to Geoff Mosher of CSN Philadelphia, Phillips was absent from the Eagles workouts for precautionary reasons related to his surgically repaired knee. 

The 26-year-old Phillips underwent microfracture surgery on the same knee in 2009, and it has given him problems ever since. There's no need for the Eagles to push Phillips in late May and risk reinjury. 

However, his unavailability now suggests that the Eagles won't be able to count on Phillips to play 16 games in 2013. While Phillips is expected to start at one safety spot, Kurt Coleman will serve as a capable backup. 

RB DeMarco Murray, Dallas Cowboys

Cowboys running back DeMarco Murray may finally be stepping on to the practice field during Wednesday's OTAs. 

According to Rowan Kavner of the Cowboys official site, Murray has missed all of this offseason's workouts with a hamstring injury but plans to practice today. 

Murray even took his return one step further, claiming he plans to play all 16 games in 2013 after missing nine during his first two NFL seasons. The Cowboys will be thrilled if that's the case, but it seems unlikely. 

Prone to injury in college, Murray has done nothing to shed that label at the professional level. The hamstring isn't expected to be a major issue moving forward, but it's still a concerning sign for a player who has struggled staying healthy. 

Other OTA Injury Notes

Other brief injury notes from around OTAs:

WR Greg Jennings, Vikings

Jennigns, the Vikings prized free-agent acquisition this offseason, missed OTAs Wednesday due an ankle injury, according to Tom Pelissero of ESPN 1500. The problem is not expected to be serious. 

RB Kendall Hunter, 49ers

According to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee, Hunter has been limited to individual drills at OTAs because of his Achilles. He tore the tendon in Week 12 of last season. 

WR Steve Johnson, Bills

The Bills top receiver was back to nearly full capacity at Tuesday's OTAs, according to Chris Brown of the Bills official site. A back injury had limited Johnson earlier this offseason, but the ailment appears to finally be in the rear view mirror. 

LB Zach Brown and DE Derrick Morgan, Titans

Both Brown and Morgan have been limited at Titans OTAs because of offseason surgeries, per Jim Wyatt of The (Nashville) Tennessean. Brown apparently underwent a shoulder operation, while Morgan had a knee scope. 

RB/WR Dexter McCluster, Chiefs

According to Adam Teicher of the Kansas City Star, McCluster was held out of OTAs this week because of a hamstring injury he suffered last week. The Chiefs are likely being proactive to ensure the injury doesn't linger further into the offseason.