How to support dpad controls for RecyclerView

Question

I am currently trying to port Android mobile app to Android TV. I have a RecyclerView that seems to be displaying correctly in my Android TV app. I am using linearLayout for my RecyclerView. But I don't seem to be able to navigate inside RecyclerView using dpad controls.

Any ideas?

Here is the concerned xml:

<android.support.v7.widget.RecyclerView xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    android:id="@+id/RecyclerView"
    android:layout_width="240dp"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:layout_gravity="left"
    android:background="@color/nav_bg"
    android:scrollbars="vertical"
    tools:showIn="@layout/activity_content" />

Answer 1

Make root view of your item layout android:focusable="true"

Answer 2

Try setting android:descendantFocusability="afterDescendants" on the RecyclerView