OWINGS MILLS, Md. — One of the Ravens’ biggest concerns as they begin their third full week of training camp continues to be the status of first-round pick Breshad Perriman.
The rookie wide receiver hasn’t practiced since injuring his knee during the first full-squad workout on July 30, but head coach John Harbaugh remains optimistic that Perriman will return soon. Initially described as a bruise that would sideline the Central Florida product for a day or two, Perriman’s knee issue has now cost him 11 straight practices as well as the preseason opener.
A few days after the injury, Harbaugh mentioned the possibility of there being a minor strain, but the organization has remained tight-lipped about the specifics of the injury over the last two weeks.
“He’s got whatever they want to call it with his knee situation there,” Harbaugh said. “It’s not something that’s going to keep him out for a long period of time, they tell me. If I was a doctor, I’d give you more. [Head athletic trainer] Mark Smith’s right in there. You can walk right in there and ask him yourself, [but] I doubt he’d talk to you.”
The Ravens were without three of their top four projected receivers on Saturday as Kamar Aiken (undisclosed) and Marlon Brown (back) were also sidelined. Veteran No. 1 wideout Steve Smith tweaked his ankle during Saturday’s practice, but it did not appear serious as he finished the workout on a limited basis.
Selected with the 26th overall pick in this year’s draft, Perriman is being counted on to provide a vertical threat for the Baltimore passing game following the offseason departures of Torrey Smith and Jacoby Jones.
The Ravens were pleased with Perriman’s work during spring workouts and have credited his mental approach to the game, but there’s no sugarcoating how much valuable practice time has been lost for the 6-foot-2, 218-pound wideout. At this point, his status for the second preseason game against Philadelphia appears cloudy at best.
“He’ll be back sometime here in training camp, hopefully soon,” Harbaugh said. “I hate that he’s missing it, hate that he’s not out here. I’ve got a knot in the pit of my stomach in some ways about it. In other ways, I know it’s out of our control.”
Other players missing from Saturday’s practice included cornerbacks Lardarius Webb (hamstring) and Asa Jackson (knee), defensive lineman DeAngelo Tyson (unspecified strain), linebacker Steven Means (leg), and offensive linemen John Urschel (concussion), Robert Myers (concussion), and Darryl Baldwin (undisclosed). Tight end Dennis Pitta (hip) and safety Terrence Brooks (knee) remain on the active physically unable to perform list.
The Ravens did see the return of starting defensive tackle Timmy Jernigan, who missed a few days of practice with a foot injury and did not play in the preseason opener.
Players will have Sunday off before returning to Owings Mills for two days of workouts before traveling to Philadelphia for a three-day practice session with the Eagles ahead of next Saturday’s preseason game.
