James tears Achilles tendon; MRI for Fuller’s knee

Ravens left tackle Ja’Wuan James suffered a torn Achilles tendon while cornerback Kyle Fuller injured his knee during Sunday’s 24-9 season-opening win over the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

Coach John Harbaugh said after the game that James’ injury is different than the Achilles tear the veteran lineman suffered as a member of the Denver Broncos in May 2021. James suffered that injury working out away from the team’s facility.

“It’s off the bone, not the one that’s midtendon,” Harbaugh said. “He’s determined and [he] said he’s in a way better place than last time.”

Harbaugh said the team will have to wait until Fuller’s MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his injury but added: “We have some reason for hope there.”

Fuller, a Baltimore native who signed a one-year deal with the Ravens in May, twisted his left knee while defending Jets rookie wide receiver Elijah Moore, who was called for offensive pass interference after pushing Fuller in the corner of the end zone late in the fourth quarter.

Fuller quickly grabbed his knee and fell to the ground before being checked by teammates, who immediately waved for help from the Ravens’ sideline. The former Mount Saint Joseph standout was looked at by trainers and eventually helped into the locker room.

James’ injury happened during the final five minutes of the first half, when he was driven backward while blocking a Jets defensive lineman. James immediately fell to the ground without putting weight on his left foot.

James lay on the ground while being looked at by trainers before being carted off the field. Patrick Mekari replaced James, and the Ravens scored on the next play as Lamar Jackson completed a 25-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Devin Duvernay with 3 minutes, 51 seconds left in the half.

James started in place of 2019 All-Pro Ronnie Stanley, who was ruled out Saturday as he recovers from an ankle injury that has kept him out of 29 of the last 30 games.

A 2014 first-round draft pick by the Miami Dolphins, James was playing in his first game since 2019 after he opted out of the 2020 season because of coronavirus concerns and then missed last year due to injury. The Broncos waived James soon after he tore his Achilles tendon in May 2021, and he signed a two-year, $4.5 million deal with the Ravens that offseason.