Schilens returns to field earlier than expected

Darrius Heyward-Bey is not only catching everything in sight at Raiders practices, but the receiver is giving pep talks now. Effective ones, apparently.

"Louis Murphy and I went to Chaz (Schilens) yesterday and told him that we need him on the field," Heyward-Bey said. "We need all three of us if we want to be a good passing offense."

Schilens made an early return from offseason foot surgery and did most of the drills at Wednesday's practice. He planted and drove hard off his left foot and looked close to full speed.

"I'm excited to be on this offense, I'll tell you that," Schilens said. "I think we're legit, and we're taking steps forward every day, not backward. Working on turnovers, working on big plays. The offense is great. I'm just looking forward to it, being out there."

Coach Tom Cable recently said that Schilens would wait until training camp to get back on the field, but then Heyward-Bey stepped in. Well, actually, Schilens had showed team trainers enough progress last week to get back on the field anyway.

"It's been awhile for me," he said. "I just wanted to get back out here as soon as possible and start working back into it. I'm glad they let me come back out here. It feels good, and I am just going to take it slow."

Schilens missed the first eight games last season with the injury and was not completely healthy after his return. "I was able to do just enough to get on the field," he said. The third-year receiver out of San Diego State had 29 catches for 365 yards and two touchdowns, but needed another operation after the season.

"They did some stuff in there and fixed it," Schilens said. "They put a screw in there, and it feels a lot better than it did last season."

The receivers - and quarterback Jason Campbell - looked good Wednesday, though it must be said that cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Chris Johnson were out with excused absences. Heyward-Bey dominated rookies Walter McFadden and Jeremy Ware and cheerleader/offensive coordinator Hue Jackson again was enthused.

"He just creates a competition every day. Every day he makes it a game," Schilens said. "He says we're trying to get them, trying to embarrass the defensive backs. I think we're winning right now."

Shut down next week: Though most of the participants seemed to be enjoying practice, somebody hasn't been and blew the whistle.

The Raiders were told to cancel two of their three practice days next week as the NFL Management Council and the NFL Players Association resolved a dispute. For the second time since 2007, the Raiders either exceeded the amount of contact deemed acceptable for the offseason or practiced too long.

The club had no comment. It cannot reschedule the canceled practice days.

Briefly: Tackle Langston Walker had surgery on his elbow and is expected back for training camp. ... The Raiders signed receiver Damola Adeniji and offensive linemen Allen Smith and Elliot Vallejo. Adeniji, 6-foot-3, caught 57 passes for 807 yards and five touchdowns for Oregon State in 2009.

E-mail Vittorio Tafur at vtafur@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 2 of the San Francisco Chronicle