ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Rod Streater hasn’t been fully cleared to return from the broken foot he suffered in Week 3, but the Oakland Raiders leading wide receiver a year ago is getting closer to getting back on the field.
Streater continues to work out with team trainers away from practice, doing mostly conditioning work in an effort to speed up the process. He’s been on the injured reserve list with a designation to return since Oct. 2.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Streater sounded optimistic he’ll be able to rejoin his teammates soon.
“I feel like I’m close,” Streater said. “I’m just making sure I’m out there at full speed. I feel I can run. Just trying to make sure I can go out there and perform. I don’t want to go out there and be half and put bad snaps on tape. I want to make sure I’m full to go.”
Streater’s absence has been sorely felt in Oakland’s passing game.
An undrafted free agent in 2012, Streater led the Raiders with 60 catches and 888 yards last year. He got off to a slow start this season (nine receptions, 84 yards, one touchdown) before breaking his left foot in a 16-9 loss to the New England Patriots.
Interim coach Tony Sparano has been non-committal when asked about the timetable for Streater to return. Players with the designation to return must stay on the list for eight weeks but can practice for the final two weeks of that period.
Streater, who has yet to practice with the rest of the team, is eligible to come off the list on Thanksgiving. Once that happens, the Raiders have two weeks to decide to add Streater to the 53-man roster or keep him on injured reserve for the remainder of the season.
“Hopefully soon,” Streater said. “Really no target date yet. I’m just trying to get back as soon as possible. I came along to where I’m able to run and cut, things like that. I just want to make sure I can do it efficiently so I can beat the defender across from me.”
Streater says he’s still ahead of schedule in his rehab and is just waiting to clear the final few hurdles.
“About two, 2 1/2 weeks I was kind of able to walk, and then three weeks I was feeling better [after surgery],” Streater said. “As time went on it got better and better. It was pretty fast. They say I’m way ahead of the progress and they’re excited about it.”