ALAMEDA, Calif. -- DJ Haydens career over the past four seasons has pretty much mirrored that of the Oakland Raiders, the only NFL team hes played for.After a lengthy stretch of lean years that lasted more than a decade the Raiders are 6-2 and tied with the Denver Broncos heading into Sunday nights game between the two AFC West co-leaders.Likewise, Hayden also appears to have put his own individual rocky past behind and is emerging as an integral cog in Oaklands secondary this season.The 12th overall pick in 2013, Hayden had been used almost exclusively in the Raiders nickel defense but had to pull double duty on the outside last week when starting cornerback Sean Smith was injured on the second play from scrimmage in Oaklands overtime win against Tampa Bay.Im pretty comfortable because thats what Ive been doing pretty much my whole life, Hayden said Thursday. Thats what the team needed me to do, come play nickel and corner.While he was beaten for a touchdown, Hayden played all but two snaps against the Bucs, allowed only two catches on the six passes thrown his direction.(He is) really clear on what his job is and what his responsibility is and it really shows in his confidence, Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. said. The way he carries himself, the way he plays, the way hes making plays . theres no question hes really doing a great job of helping us.Smith returned to practice Thursday after sitting out a day earlier with a shoulder injury but was limited to individual drills during the 30-minute media access window. His status for Sundays game is uncertain.If Smith -- one of the Raiders top free agent signings in the offseason -- is unable to play against Denver, Hayden is likely to start in his place. Hayden replaced Smith in Oaklands base defense after Smith went out but moved inside to defend the slot when the Raiders went to their nickel while TJ Carrie lined up at cornerback.Oaklands much-maligned pass defense limited Tampa Bay quarterback Jameis Winston to 180 yards, the fewest allowed by the Raiders this season. They also forced three-and-outs both times the Bucs had the ball in overtime, setting the stage for quarterback Derek Carrs game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass to Seth Roberts.We had a great time out there, Hayden said. Theres some stuff we could have done better but we played a pretty good game . especially in overtime. I thought we played really good in overtime.That hasnt always been the case for Hayden, who struggled with injuries and had problems covering bigger receivers as a starting cornerback during his first few seasons in the NFL. Haydens career with the Raiders appeared to be at a crossroads when the team declined to pick up the option year on his contract this offseason then asked him to move inside to defend the slot.After a slow start both for Hayden and Oaklands defense, both seem to be settling into a much more comfortable groove now.Its not what I see on film, its how Im playing, how were all playing, how we all feel out there, Hayden said. I feel like Im playing better but still, the season aint over yet. Still gotta do work.As Hayden is quick to point out, that goes for the Raiders as a team as well. Oakland won just seven games in Haydens first two seasons then matched that by going 7-9 in 2015. With six wins already this season, the outlook is drastically different than it has been but the job is only half-finished.Ill wait until after the season to appreciate it but when I was younger we were rough, Hayden said. It feels good but theres still a lot of work out there to do and we have to finish out.Game notesCenter Rodney Hudson (knee) and left guard Kelechi Osemele (knee) were also limited after sitting out Wednesday. Wide receiver Amari Cooper (back) and fullback Jamize Olawale (ankle) were limited as well.---Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP-NFLEvan Engram Youth Jersey . Sulaiman, 44, was chosen unanimously Tuesday in a vote by the leadership, the World Boxing Council said. Sulaiman becomes the sixth president of the organization. Carl Banks Cheap Jersey . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. http://www.giantsonlineteamshop.com/julian-love-jersey-cheap.html . As the crowd erupted, Davis knocked the ball off the glass and back into his hands. With 1:14 to go in overtime, Davis sixth block also became his 17th rebound. That, along with his 32 points -- which tied a career high -- proved too much for Denver to overcome, and the Pelicans held on for their third straight victory, 111-107 on Sunday night. Phil McConkey Cheap Jersey . The CFLs leading rusher kept adding to his gaudy numbers this season and scored the winning touchdown with just over two minutes to play. The New Westminster, B.C., native plowed three yards into the end zone for the last score of a heated, see-saw battle between the two teams with the best records in the CFL. Ny Giants Jerseys . John Lucas, signed as a mentor for rookie Trey Burke, showed he can score if required, scoring 12 points of his 16 points in the second quarter as Utah built an 18-point lead.Florida State coach Jimbo Fishers week started with some good news.Both defensive end DeMarcus Walker and quarterback Deondre Francois are expected to be in action when the Seminoles play at Syracuse on Saturday. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m. ET at the Carrier Dome with the game featured in a split telecast between ABC and ESPN2.Walker leads the No. 17 Seminoles (7-3, 4-3 Atlantic Coast Conference) with 11 sacks, an average of 1.1 per game that ranks in a tie for third in the country. He was seen wearing a protective boot near the end of last weeks win over Boston College, but he is expected to play against the unranked Orange (4-6, 2-4 ACC).Francois, who is passing for 267.5 yards a game, sat out the fourth quarter to protect a shoulder injury, but Fisher said the redshirt freshman could have played if needed. Obviously, he wasnt needed over the final 15 minutes of the 45-7 rout of the Eagles.But tempering the good news: Defensive back Derwin James has finally been ruled out for the rest of the season. He hasnt played since injuring his knee in the second game of the season.Fisher also noted one other lineup change for this week. Junior Rich Leonard, who started the first four games, will be back at right tackle after sophomore Brock Ruble, who started the past six outings, sustained a groin injury against Boston College.Once he got going in the game, he picked up two or three really nice twists, Fisher said of Leonard. Played physical. Did a nice job.The injury report on the other side isnt as optimistic.Orange quarterback Eric Dungey, who sat out last weeks loss to North Carolina State after sustaining an injury to his head or upper body against Clemson a week earlier, is considered doubtful. Coach Dino Babers seems to be taking things in stride.As a football coach and as a football player, that stuff happens all the time, Babers said. Guys get hurt. Thats what makes our game so unpredictable, and its also the thing that makes our game so cool. ... You do get aan opportunity to hit a star.dddddddddddd.He compared that to basketball with untouchable superstars such as Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson.In basketball, you dont get to touch Michael Jordan or you get in trouble, he said. You get in trouble if you touch Magic. In football, you get to touch them as long as you play within the rules.As a football player, guys get hurt and guys come back, and we embrace the ideal of finding a way to find the next man to step up.In this instance, that would be Zack Mahoney. The junior didnt put up big numbers last week against N.C. State -- he completed 14 of 25 passes for 190 yards, a little over 100 yards fewer than Dungey is averaging a game -- but he wasnt helped by an anemic running game that produced just 28 yards.Its not Zacks job to play like Eric, although if he wants to, Im all for it, Babers said. What we expect is for the other 21 guys to elevate their game so that Zack can play under control and we still have an opportunity to win.Mahoney did show the ability to throw the ball down the field but will have to rely on the offensive line to give him time to do so if he does start. That is no easy task. The Seminoles have 33 sacks for the year.We would all love to have Eric, but the next guy has to step up, and thats exactly what Zack did (Saturday), Syracuse running back Dontae Strickland said. He did what he had to do, and offensively we didnt put up the numbers we usually do, but its different with a different team captain on the field. But well come back next week, so we just have to improve.One thing to watch for: Florida State running back Dalvin Cook goes into the game needing just 19 yards to become the programs all-time leading rusher. The junior has run for 1,242 yards this year, giving him 1,941 for his career. Warrick Dunn is the all-time leader with 1,959 yards from 1993-96. ' ' '