RAVENS RB JK DOBBINS OUT FOR THE SEASON WITH TORN ACHILLES, AS INJURIES HIT, AGAIN
Baltimore Ravens running back JK Dobbins suffered a torn Achilles during Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans and is now out for the season, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed after the game.
Dobbins, who was the Ravens no.1 running back going into the season was headed into a contract year and is now set to miss another full season after missing the 2021 campaign with a torn ACL. Dobbins scored the Ravens’ first touchdown in the first quarter, a four-yard scamper that led to a leap into the end zone. The former Ohio State Buckeye totaled eight carries for 22 rushing yards and two catches for 15 receiving yards.
The fourth-year running back came up hobbling after getting tackled near the end zone after receiving a short pass from quarterback Lamar Jackson. Dobbins initially went to the sideline under his own power but had to be helped by trainers going into the locker room.
“I’m crestfallen for him,” said head coach John Harbaugh. “There’s so many guys you feel excited for… and then JK who has this unfortunate thing happen to him. He was playing well. We’ll put our arms around him, he’ll get into rehab and he will be back. He’s a young guy so that’s really it.”
Dobbins has played only nine games from 2021 through this season, and is now scheduled to miss a total of 43 games over the past three seasons. The 24-year-old has been unlucky with injuries since his second year after going through college without missing a game with injury.
The recent Achilles tear stagnates Dobbins’ career production to just 234 carries for 1,347 rushing yards, and 12 touchdowns. Unfortunately, the former second-round pick has only suited up for 23 games in his young career, starting only nine.
Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson spoke about Dobbins injury and how much the offense will miss the young playmaker. “That’s very unfortunate,” said Jackson. “I feel like JK [has] been busting his behind to get back on the field and show the world what he’s capable of, to help us out along the way. I spoke highly of him this offseason, just letting everybody know we really need him. For him to go down with a season-ending injury that’s very unfortunate for us, not just him. For all of us, that’s our brother.”
Dobbins was the Ravens’ best running back in his rookie season, and contributed an impressive 805 rushing yards and 9 rushing touchdowns to the league’s no.1 rushing offense that year.
Ravens linebacker Patrick Queen, who is also headed into a contract year after the Ravens declined picking up his fifth-year option this offseason, was emotional when speaking to the media about Dobbins during the game and said about Dobbins: “Obviously the news came out about him and I texted him. That guy [is] a good brother of mine. It hurts to see that type of stuff happen to somebody so good, just a good person, a good athlete.”
“Obviously he’s got other stuff going on. It’s just tough. I just ask everybody [to] pray for him, pray for his mental, pray for Marcus [Williams]’s mental, pray for those guys. Stuff like that is why he was in the situation [with his contract] that he’s in. It’s just tough. It hurts honestly, it hurts. A lot.”
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave one of the game balls to Dobbins after the game, dedicating the week one victory to his performance on the field and for scoring the game’s first points.
Meanwhile, the Ravens also lost starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley and starting center Tyler Linderbaum to ankle and knee injuries on Sunday. The team watched starting safety Marcus Williams go down with a torn pectoral and head coach John Harbaugh confirmed all three were scheduled to undergo MRIs before a conclusive diagnosis was made.
As per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Williams had full movement in his arm on Sunday but his pec was incredibly swollen. The former Saints defensive back is feared of missing significant time and could be out for the season if, in a worst-case scenario, it’s a grade three tear. Williams’ timeline should become clearer on Monday.
While injuries have been the story with Baltimore in recent seasons, the Ravens will have to hold their breath as they wait on the health status of three of their best players in Linderbaum, Williams, and Stanley. Baltimore will prepare for a crucial away game this week as the Ravens are slated for an old-fashioned AFC North rivalry against last year’s division winners, the Cincinnati Bengals, in Week 2.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
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