The 2016 season really begins here for the Ravens— how many of their veteran guys under contract and recovering from surgery or chronic injury can really contribute to a team starving for their talents?
The injury recovery guys report early to the facility beginning this Friday.
They include QB Joe Flacco, OLB/pass rusher Terrell Suggs, WR Michael Campanaro, CB Jimmy Smith, WR Steve Smith Sr., RB Justin Forsett, WR Breshad Perriman, TE Dennis Pitta and a couple of other guys I’m overlooking…but the point is any one of these guys goes bust in the regular season, especially Flacco and Suggs and the Smiths, then we are looking at a desperate situation for the Ravens.
At least Joe Flacco by all indications appears ready to play.
Coming off ACL surgery, Flacco will report to training camp on time this Friday with other injured veterans and rookies.
“While it’s been fun at some parts to make fun of the guys out there sweating their butts off and I’m hanging out in the air conditioning, it was very tough to just watch,” Flacco said with a chuckle. “I’m excited to get back out there.”
Flacco usually takes the bulk of the first-team reps, but he most often shares them with the backup quarterback. That will again be the plan this year. Flacco is approaching this training camp just as he would any other.
“I don’t anticipate saying, ‘Hey, I’m going to take half the reps today,’” Flacco said. “I’m going to go out there and I’m going to do it.”
Flacco said his knee is in great shape and feels best when he’s actively working out. At the same time, he recognizes that he may feel some discomfort at points over the duration of the grueling weeks of camp. When he feels that, Flacco plans to speak up.
Flacco said the way head coach John Harbaugh has scheduled camp will work out perfectly for him, and he doesn’t plan on devising any specific plan to ease him back.
“At some point, I’m going to have to be willing to speak up and say … ‘Hey John, I need a couple [reps off] here,’” Flacco said.
“I don’t really anticipate any problems, but I’m definitely not going to put myself at risk. If I’m feeling a little down one day, I’m not going to go out there full strength. I’m going to be smart about it but get my work done.”
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