The Ravens are diligently preparing for the start of free agency as well as the NFL draft in hopes of rebounding from their second losing season since 2007.
But general manager Eric DeCosta and head coach John Harbaugh know much of Baltimore’s fate will depend on how effectively multiple key players return from injuries that sunk the team’s chances this past season. After all, roughly half of the expected $208.2 million salary cap for the 2022 season is currently tied to Ravens players returning from substantial injuries.
Adding some valuable veterans and hitting on draft picks will be critical, of course, but it’s difficult envisioning the Ravens jumping to elite Super Bowl contender status without significant improvement from within that will begin with availability. Having elite talent on paper doesn’t mean much if those players aren’t able to return to the field and compete at their pre-injury level — or at least very close to it.
Below is a look at 10 notable Ravens players who will be returning from injury and under contract for the 2022 season:
OLB TYUS BOWSER
2022 salary cap number: $5 million
Latest update: Despite starting all 17 games and finishing second on the team in defensive snaps, the 26-year-old suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the Jan. 9 season finale, which served as a final cruel blow to an injury picture that had long spiraled out of control. Still, DeCosta recently stated his opinion that Bowser should be “ready to go at the start of training camp.” That sounded rather ambitious for such a serious injury, but the 2017 second-round pick is known for a strong work ethic.
Ideal scenario: Bowser returns for a meaningful chunk of training camp to knock off the rust and is ready for Week 1 to start building on his strong 2021 season and continue his streak of never missing a game due to injury in his career.
Not ideal scenario: The starting strong-side outside linebacker misses all of training camp and either begins the regular season on the physically unable to perform list or labors through the year at less than full strength, leaving the position group too vulnerable.
TE NICK BOYLE
2022 salary cap number: $7 million
Latest update: The 29-year-old returned from injured reserve to appear in five games, but anyone who watched him play could see the man regarded as one of the NFL’s best blocking tight ends over the previous several years wasn’t close to being his old self. Harbaugh said late last month that Boyle “should be back full speed” by next season.
Ideal scenario: With a full offseason to continue rehabbing and working out after undergoing multiple procedures on his left knee the previous year, Boyle is a full participant in the spring and summer and ready to again be a force in the running game.
Not ideal scenario: Boyle is unable to regain his previous form with his salary remaining an unfortunate drain on the salary cap.
RB J.K. DOBBINS
2022 salary cap number: $1.562 million
Latest update: Unlike his expressed optimism for Bowser, DeCosta was more cautious discussing Dobbins and fellow running back Gus Edwards and their recoveries from torn ACLs sustained shortly before the start of the regular season, saying only that he expects “those guys will be back at some point. I don’t know exactly when, but we’re confident.”
Ideal scenario: Nearly 11 full months removed from his knee injury, the 23-year-old is very close to full strength by the start of training camp in late July and is ready to realize that dual-threat Pro Bowl potential so many envisioned ahead of 2021.
Not ideal scenario: Dobbins is healthy enough to play, but he lacks the same explosiveness to be the home run hitter we saw as a rookie, instead looking more like the 2021 version of Devonta Freeman and failing to move the needle much for the offense.
RB GUS EDWARDS
2022 salary cap number: $4.5 million
Latest update: (See Dobbins)
Ideal scenario: Edwards is fully ready by Week 1 to once again show that impressive combination of physicality and quickness and averages at least 5.0 yards per carry just like he did in each of his first three seasons with Baltimore.
Not ideal scenario: The 238-pound back lacks the same speed returning from the knee injury and more closely resembles a combination of 2020 Mark Ingram and Latavius Murray from last year, making his $3.25 million salary a value concern.
CB MARLON HUMPHREY
2022 salary cap number: $17.45 million
Latest update: Though a torn pectoral muscle doesn’t carry the long-term concerns of the aforementioned injuries, Humphrey said last week in a media tour ahead of the Super Bowl that his recovery is going well and he expects to be fully ready long before the start of the season, which aligns with the initial projections when he went down in Week 13.
Ideal scenario: The 25-year-old takes part in spring and summer workouts without any setbacks and returns to the elite form we saw from 2018-20.
Not ideal scenario: A disrupted offseason doesn’t lead to Humphrey missing any game action, but it prompts a second straight year in which his play underwhelms compared to the standard set in previous seasons.
QB LAMAR JACKSON
2022 salary cap number: $23.106 million
Latest update: As he recently told Harbaugh and showcased on social media this week, the 2019 league MVP resumed working out right after the Super Bowl, throwing to a group of wide receivers that included teammates Rashod Bateman and James Proche. And while the videos hadn’t featured Jackson doing much running the first couple days, there’s no reason to believe the bone bruise in his right ankle will leave any long-term concerns.
Ideal scenario: With some help from an improved offensive line and running game, a healthy Jackson puts last November’s struggles behind him to once again become a serious MVP candidate at the quarterback position.
Not ideal scenario: His difficulties playing from the pocket that surfaced midway through last season persist with an offensive line still unable to find its way, leaving the door open to additional uncertainty if a contract extension hasn’t been reached by then.
OT JA’WUAN JAMES
2022 salary cap number: $3.25 million
Latest update: Despite returning from last spring’s Achilles tear to practice in December, James wasn’t activated with Harbaugh saying it was “something that the player has to decide really if he feels like he’s ready to go.” Assuming no setback or disconnect between the 29-year-old and the organization, James shouldn’t have any problem taking part in spring workouts with the goal of being fully healthy for training camp.
Ideal scenario: The 6-foot-6, 315-pound tackle avoids injury and plays like the rock-solid tackle who started 62 games for Miami from 2014-18, providing an answer to alleviate some of Baltimore’s concerns along its offensive line.
Not ideal scenario: The man who’s played in just three games since the end of 2018 struggles to stay on the practice field and is nowhere close to being the starting-caliber right tackle he once was, leaving his roster spot in doubt.
CB MARCUS PETERS
2022 salary cap number: $15.5 million
Latest update: Recently asked on Shay Calloway’s SiriusXM show when he expected to be fully recovered from last September’s ACL tear, Peters said he plans to “be back by June, July.” Both DeCosta and Harbaugh have confirmed the expectation that Peters will remain a Raven despite carrying a $10 million salary for the 2022 season.
Ideal scenario: A full training camp gives the 29-year-old more than enough time to regain the pre-injury form that included having the most interceptions in the league since his 2015 rookie season, giving the Ravens that playmaking ability they sorely missed in the secondary last season and prompting discussions about an extension beyond 2022.
Not ideal scenario: With his 2020 play not being as strong as his All-Pro campaign in 2019, a serious knee injury only accelerates Peters’ decline, leaving the Baltimore secondary on shaky footing for a second straight season and his career at a crossroads in the final year of his contract.
OT RONNIE STANLEY
2022 salary cap number: $18.552 million
Latest update: Though DeCosta wouldn’t comment on where Stanley was from a recovery standpoint earlier this month, the executive said, “I truly believe that Ronnie is going to be back this year and play good football, play winning football, and become — again — the Ronnie Stanley that was an All-Pro left tackle.” Turning 28 next month, Stanley has played in only one game since sustaining a major ankle injury on Nov. 1, 2020 that’s led to multiple surgeries.
Ideal scenario: The procedure Stanley underwent last October finally does the trick for his problematic left ankle and allows him to return to action in 2022 and resume his place as one of the best left tackles in the league sooner than later.
Not ideal scenario: Despite his best efforts, the 6-foot-6, 315-pound lineman is unable to return to the field or is a shell of the All-Pro talent he used to be, leaving a hole at left tackle and an albatross of a contract for an organization already wishing it had more cap flexibility.
DL DEREK WOLFE
2022 salary cap number: $3.8 million
Latest update: Harbaugh confirmed the soon-to-be 32-year-old underwent hip labrum surgery last month, so the Ravens will “see how that goes” as Wolfe missed the entire season with a back and hip issue that initially surfaced last August. His attempt to return in late October was shelved after he logged only a limited practice or two over the bye week.
Ideal scenario: Wolfe is fully recovered and committed to returning in 2022, which really helps ease the transition going from one of the most experienced defensive lines in the league to a much younger group.
Not ideal scenario: The veteran continues to deal with injury concerns limiting his availability and is unable to give the Ravens any bang for their buck for a second straight season, putting even more pressure on young defensive linemen to perform.
