Despite feeling ‘amazing,’ Dobbins uncertain to play
Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins said Friday that he feels “amazing” more than a year after suffering a serious knee injury, but he doesn’t know whether he’ll play in Sunday’s home opener against the Miami Dolphins.
Dobbins, the team’s most talented running back, practiced fully Thursday for the first time since he tore the ACL, LCL and meniscus in his left knee, along with his hamstring, during the Ravens’ 2021 preseason finale. He called it “one of the toughest injuries I’ve had.” Coach John Harbaugh declined to comment on the team’s injury situation after practice Friday, but Dobbins was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game on the injury report.
“We’ll see,” Dobbins said in his first meeting with reporters since the injury. “That’s the answer I got to give you. But I don’t know. I truly don’t know. Maybe, I am, maybe not. We’ll see.”
Dobbins, who led all NFL running backs in yards per carry as a rookie, was cleared to practice in training camp in early August and has been slowly ramping up. He said the rehabilitation has tested his patience but that he understands the Ravens’ caution. Conversations with New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, who tore his ACL early in the 2020 season, helped him keep perspective.
“I’ve never been injured like this before,” he said. “It’s super hard to be patient. My work ethic is the thing that makes me not patient. I always want to be out there. I always want to be working. When I’m not, I feel like I’m missing something. Being patient is part of this process. I’m getting better at it each day and learning, which is a part of this process and this long career that I hope and pray that I have.”
Injury report: Ravens cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters and Brandon Stephens were all listed as questionable for Sunday’s home opener in the team’s final injury report of the week.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley and wide receiver James Proche II were listed as doubtful, while rookie defensive tackle Travis Jones, who returned to practice Wednesday after suffering a knee injury in the preseason, was listed as questionable.
Humphrey did not practice Friday, raising further questions about the health of the team’s secondary.
With Stephens (quadriceps) missing practice for the second straight day, the Ravens’ top four cornerbacks entering the season are all either unavailable or uncertain for Week 2. Humphrey (groin) was limited in practice Thursday, while Kyle Fuller suffered a season-ending knee injury Sunday against the New York Jets. Peters (knee) was a full participant in practice Thursday and a limited participant Friday, but he hasn’t played in a game since tearing his ACL a year ago.
The only healthy cornerbacks on the Ravens’ 53-man roster are rookies Jalyn Armour-Davis and Damarion “Pepe” Williams, who combined for 16 defensive snaps in Week 1. Injuries could leave the Ravens’ secondary at a disadvantage against a Miami Dolphins receiving corps headlined by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.
Proche (groin) was the Ravens’ only other absence Friday. After missing two straight workouts, he’s unlikely to play Sunday.
Fullback Patrick Ricard (calf ) returned as a limited participant after missing practice Wednesday and Thursday and was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Stanley (ankle) and tight end Nick Boyle (rest) were also back Friday, with Boyle not listed on the final injury report. Dobbins practiced in full for the third straight day.
The Dolphins have their own health woes. Starting right tackle Austin Jackson (ankle) was placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for at least the next four games. Greg Little is expected to start in his place.
Starting left tackle Terron Armstead (toe), meanwhile, was limited in practice Friday and listed as questionable for Sunday.
In replacing injured mascot Poe, the Ravens didn’t have to look very far.
On Friday, the team announced it’s bringing back Edgar and Allan for the 2022 season, ending 14 years of retirement for two of the club’s original mascots.
Edgar, Allan and Poe were “hatched” on the field in 1998 to honor the famous writer, whose poem “The Raven” was the inspiration for the team’s name. But Edgar and Allan were retired after the 2008 season, leaving Poe as the lone mascot.
However, Poe was carted off the field at halftime of the Ravens’ third preseason game against the Washington Commanders at M&T Bank Stadium last month after suffering an apparent knee injury when he was sacked in an exhibition game against an Amateur Athletic Union team from Baltimore.
He was placed on season-ending injured reserve.