OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Every other notable Ravens player not practicing on the first day of training camp came with an explanation.
Wide receiver Rashod Bateman is still feeling lingering effects from last fall’s season-ending foot surgery. Outside linebacker Tyus Bowser is dealing with a knee issue that surfaced earlier this spring. Fullback Patrick Ricard underwent hip surgery in the offseason.
But running back J.K. Dobbins wasn’t on the field Wednesday after his participation in June’s mandatory minicamp also “wasn’t in the cards,” according to head coach John Harbaugh at the time. The 2020 second-round pick is on the active physically unable to perform list and is present at the team’s training facility, but Harbaugh was asked after Wednesday’s practice whether Dobbin’s absence from the field was related to his surgically-repaired knee or another injury concern.
“That’s a J.K. question. I wish it was a simple answer,” Harbaugh said. “There are always a lot of things that go into football, but there is some complexity to it, and we’re working through all that. J.K. is working through it, and I’m looking forward to when he’s out there.”
Harbaugh could have elected to offer Dobbins some cover — at least a little bit — by saying he’s dealing with a soft-tissue injury or simply strengthening his knee early in camp. At the same time, the 16th-year coach wasn’t going to come right out and say there is no physical concern since the team itself placed Dobbins on the active PUP list last Friday.
But between Dobbins’ social media activity in recent months and the ambiguity surrounding his lack of practice participation entering the final year of his rookie contract, the real reason seems rather obvious, especially with the discourse surrounding the NFL’s tepid running back market this summer. No one is going to call this a “hold-in” officially, of course, but Harbaugh “really wouldn’t be able to say at this time” what the timetable is for Dobbins to start practicing.
With the Ohio State product scheduled to make just under $1.4 million for 2023, it’s unclear exactly what he seeks in terms of compensation for the upcoming season or beyond. And despite a very impressive 5.9 yards per carry average over his young career, Dobbins has played in just 26 of a possible 53 games — including the postseason — due mostly to the severe knee injury he sustained in the 2021 preseason finale, making it easy to understand general manager Eric DeCosta not being in any rush to give him a lucrative extension. One can certainly empathize with the frustration felt by Dobbins and other running backs without expecting the Ravens to arbitrarily ignore the market, especially when there’s a salary cap in place.
“I haven’t talked to him about the situation, but I’m very excited,” said quarterback Lamar Jackson, who’s no stranger to long-term contract talks after the last few offseasons. “J.K. is J.K. I know he’s going to work his tail off, and I can’t wait for him to be out here.”
Dobbins and those advising him have to understand the reality of his situation by now, especially as more accomplished running backs face such an underwhelming market. The best he can hope to do now is to decrease his perceived injury risk by not taking part in practices until sometime next month. And if he’s back on the practice field by at least mid-August to get up to speed physically with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken’s system, it would be difficult to argue against him having more than enough time to be ready for the Sept. 10 opener against Houston. After all, we’re not talking about an unproven rookie or a fringe veteran on the roster bubble who must take advantage of every summer rep.
But Dobbins does need to stay healthy and have his best season if he wants to maximize his earning potential — in Baltimore or elsewhere. Otherwise, this tactic will be viewed as a major misstep, especially if his on-field absence stretches into late August or beyond.
While other organizations take a more combative approach with such matters publicly, the Ravens appear willing to play nice for now. For what it’s worth, Dobbins walked out to the field about an hour into Wednesday’s practice to observe from the sideline, even exchanging pleasantries with DeCosta, owner Steve Bisciotti, and team president Sashi Brown.
How the organization and his teammates — who are currently practicing in the hot Owings Mills sun like Dobbins is contractually obligated to do — feel privately might be a different story. But as long as the 5-foot-10, 215-pound back is ready to roll and plays at a high level come Week 1, no one will care that he sat out the early days of training camp.
His financial future depends on that outcome.
“I know he’ll get ready. He’s in all the meetings mentally and doing those kinds of things,” Harbaugh said. “I also believe this about J.K. — he’ll be happy when he’s out there. He wants to be out there, and we both want the same thing.”
