The Raiders received some positive news Tuesday when rookie safety Obi Melifonwu hit the practice field for the first time in months and Oakland’s defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. is excited about figuring out what the second-round pick can bring to the table.

“That’s a good question. It’s been a while since we’ve seen him,” Norton Jr. said during Tuesday’s media availability. “So it’s up to Obi to show us what he has, and we’re all waiting and watching and interested in seeing what he brings.”

Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie certainly believed that the 6-foot-4 safety can bring a lot when he selected him in the second round of April’s NFL draft.

Melifonwu has been on the injured reserve list since suffering a knee injury in the third preseason game against the Cowboys in August.

After undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery, Melinfowu was sidelined for the first half of the season. Although it sounds like Melifonwu is nearing a hundred-percent healthy, he won’t be eligible to be added to the active roster until after Week 8. Starting Tuesday, the coaching staff has a two-week window to choose to activate Melifonwu or shut him down for the rest of the season.

If he is healthy and effective, Melifonwu could help in the passing game covering opposing tight ends for a Raiders’ defense that has struggled mightily in doing that.