Raiders' O'Leary eyes return in 2021 after heart procedures

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Nick O'Leary plans to resume his career for the 2021 season after undergoing a pair of heart procedures last month. O'Leary, who was placed on the reserve/Non-Football Injury list in May, told the Palm Beach Post on Monday that he underwent surgery to clear 100 percent blockage to his heart. "I feel good," the 27-year-old O'Leary said.

Las Vegas Raiders tight end Nick O'Leary plans to resume his career for the 2021 season after undergoing a pair of heart procedures last month. O'Leary, who was placed on the reserve/Non-Football Injury list in May, told the Palm Beach Post on Monday that he underwent surgery to clear 100 percent blockage to his heart.

"I feel good," the 27-year-old O'Leary said. "I feel better than I did before. I've got to be on blood thinners for six months to a year. That's really the only reason now why I can't play football. If I (got cut), they said that would be the biggest problem, wouldn't be able to stop the bleeding." O'Leary said that he felt a sharp pain in his left arm that moved to his chest in May. The pain then returned while he was playing pickleball with his brother.

"I said sarcastically to my brother there's something wrong with my heart, I don't know what it is," O'Leary said. "I happened to go to the hospital, and they told me it was a heart attack." O'Leary, a grandson of golfing legend Jack Nicklaus, has recorded 53 receptions for 668 yards and four touchdowns in 59 career games (24 starts) with the Buffalo Bills (2015-17), Miami Dolphins (2018-19) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019). He signed with the Raiders as a free agent in the offseason.

--Field Level Media