While speaking at length about the tragic death of cornerback Tray Walker as well as NFL rules changes and instant replay, Ravens coach John Harbaugh also provided health updates on several players at the league meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. on Tuesday morning.
Tight end Crockett Gillmore continues to recover from offseason shoulder surgery, but the Ravens learned recently that he would not need surgery for torn labrums in both shoulders as was previously thought. Gillmore’s uncertain status as well as the 10-game suspension of second-year tight end Nick Boyle prompted Baltimore to sign veteran Benjamin Watson two weeks ago, but their 2015 starting tight end appears to no longer be a question mark for the start of the coming season and could even be back on the practice field for organized team activities this spring.
“It turned out that as time went on, the other shoulder didn’t need to be done,” Harbaugh said. “He’s had one shoulder done, and they say now that the other one does not need to be done. He’s going to be fine, probably for OTAs — certainly for training camp. That [information came] within the last two weeks, so that was great news for us.”
Meanwhile, quarterback Joe Flacco remains “right on schedule” to be ready for training camp, but Harbaugh reiterated that the Ravens will “just have to see how he feels” as they move closer to the summer.
Second-year wide receiver Breshad Perriman continues to rehab from a partially-torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee, but the Ravens are still saying that the 2015 first-round pick should be ready for spring workouts. Of course, observers will remain skeptical until the Central Florida product is back on the practice field and can prove he is healthy after initially injuring his knee on the first full day of training camp last July and suffering a setback in late September.
“The expectation for Breshad is to be back for OTAs,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know what percentage [the knee] is right now, but I know that everybody seems to be happy with his progress. He looks strong. I’ve seen him in there a few times in rehab. Everybody tells me that he’s right where he should be.”
Meanwhile, Harbaugh offered an update on veteran linebacker Terrell Suggs, who suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the season opener last Sept. 13 and didn’t have extensive contact with the organization after the injury. The 2011 AP Defensive Player of the Year was arrested and charged with two misdemeanors in Arizona earlier this month for driving with a suspended license and failing to notify after striking a fixture.
The fact that Suggs was still in a walking boot when he stood on the Ravens’ sideline during their Week 16 win over Pittsburgh raised some eyebrows regarding his recovery last December, but the organization continues to express an optimistic outlook for his 2016 status. The six-time Pro Bowl selection will be entering his 14th season and turns 34 in October.
“Just texting with Terrell back and forth and talking to Mark Smith, he seems to be on schedule,” Harbaugh said. “I have not seen him, so I have not done my own eyeball test yet. Terrell’s going to work hard. He’s going to be ready.”
