OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Running back J.K. Dobbins has taken an important step toward making his return to game action as early as Sunday’s home opener against Miami.
After being a limited participant in practices last week and sitting out the Week 1 win over the New York Jets, Dobbins participated fully in Wednesday’s practice. The 23-year-old returned to practice on Aug. 8 and has slowly ramped up his activity level over the last five weeks.
In a recent TV interview with WJZ, Dobbins confirmed he sustained tears to the ACL, LCL, meniscus, and hamstring in his left knee and leg in the 2021 preseason finale, which reinforces why the Ravens have been so careful with the third-year running back’s rehabilitation. However, the 2020 second-round pick out of Ohio State has been moving better and better in recent practices, something movement tracking data confirms when making decisions to clear rehabbing players for a full return.
“What you used to only see, now you can see and measure,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “We look at that as well.”
Expectations should be tempered for the time being, but the Ravens’ ground game could certainly use Dobbins’ old explosiveness after gaining just 63 rushing yards against New York, their lowest rushing total in a game started by quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Cornerback Marcus Peters (knee) and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) remained limited participants in Wednesday’s practice with the latter still facing an uphill battle to play in Week 2 after returning to practice on Sept. 5. Peters has been practicing on a limited basis only since Aug. 15.
Harbaugh downplayed any notion of needing to see something specific to clear Dobbins and Peters to play against the Dolphins on Sunday.
“As always, you don’t know. You have to go by what you see, and in the end, the standard is what’s best for our team and what’s best for the player,” Harbaugh said. “Are they ready to go? Do they think they’re ready to go? Do they believe they’re ready to go? Do they want to go? That’s part of the healing process for sure. Then, whoever the player is compared to what options you have. That becomes your next thought in there.”
Fullback Patrick Ricard was the only player on the 53-man roster to sit out Wednesday’s practice because of an injury as he’s dealing with a calf issue. The three-time Pro Bowl selection was on the field for Baltimore’s final two kneel-downs and played 36 offensive snaps in the 24-9 win over the Jets, but he was flexing his left leg at one point during the penultimate drive.
Defensive end Calais Campbell and outside linebacker Justin Houston received veteran days off after playing 41 and 54 defensive snaps respectively against the Jets.
Rookie defensive tackle Travis Jones returned to practice for the first time since suffering a hyperextension of his knee in the Aug. 21 preseason win at Arizona. Sporting a brace on his left knee, Jones was a limited participant during Wednesday’s workout, but he did extra on-field work with some other defensive linemen after practice.
“It was great to get him back at practice, and he looked good out there,” Harbaugh said. “I’ll have to look at the tape and just see exactly, but he’s done a great job with his rehab, and we’ll see if he’ll be ready to play or not.”
Second-year cornerback Brandon Stephens was listed as a limited participant with a quadriceps issue. That will be something to monitor over the course of the week since he would be expected to start opposite top cornerback Marlon Humphrey if Peters isn’t ready to make his season debut against Miami.
The Ravens promoted outside linebacker Steven Means to the 53-man roster and signed veteran cornerback T.J. Carrie to the practice squad on Wednesday. Carrie, 32, has appeared in 118 games (54 starts) in his career and played in 11 games with Indianapolis last year.
Wednesday also brought a reminder of the human element of injuries as cornerback Kyle Fuller sat on a bench just outside the team facility and watched part of the workout. After sustaining a torn ACL in his left knee late in the win over the Jets, the Baltimore native and Mount St. Joseph graduate won’t even have the opportunity to play in front of his hometown crowd this season. Placed on season-ending injured reserve on Tuesday, the 30-year-old Fuller spent his first seven professional years with Chicago before playing for Denver last season.
“He’ll tell you he really loves it here. His mom is here,” Harbaugh said Monday. “He just liked everything about what we were doing, and he fit in so well and was playing good ball in the game — really all camp. He’s such a serious guy, so determined. He’ll come back stronger than ever.
“One of those things, just a crazy circumstance on their AstroTurf. He got pushed off and just landed the wrong way on the turf, and the turf doesn’t usually give as much as grass.”
Like the Jets last week, the Dolphins are dealing with health concerns at offensive tackle with starters Terron Armstead (toe) and Austin Jackson (ankle) both sitting out Wednesday’s practice. The 31-year-old Armstead is a three-time Pro Bowl left tackle and left New Orleans to join Miami on a five-year, $75 million deal this offseason.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DE Calais Campbell (rest), OLB Justin Houston (rest), FB Patrick Ricard (calf)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: DT Travis Jones (knee), CB Marcus Peters (knee), WR James Proche (groin), CB Brandon Stephens (quad), OT Ronnie Stanley (ankle)
FULL PARTICIPATION: RB J.K. Dobbins (knee)
MIAMI
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: RB Salvon Ahmed (heel), OT Terron Armstead (toe/rest), TE Cethan Carter (concussion), LB Melvin Ingram (rest), OT Austin Jackson (ankle), WR Cedrick Wilson Jr. (toe)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: TE Tanner Conner (knee), S Eric Rowe (pectoral)
FULL PARTICIPATION: OT Greg Little (ankle)
