OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens secondary has taken another hit with the season-ending knee injury suffered by cornerback Danny Gorrer in Sunday’s win over the Miami Dolphins.
Head coach John Harbaugh confirmed Monday that the 28-year-old suffered tears to the medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee that will require surgery. Gorrer will become the fourth Ravens cornerback to be placed on injured reserve this season, joining starter Jimmy Smith (foot), veteran Aaron Ross (Achilles tendon), and rookie Tramain Jacobs (thigh). Asa Jackson was activated from IR-designated to return on Saturday following a two-month absence due to a turf toe injury.
Gorrer was in the midst of his second tenure with the Ravens after being claimed off waivers from Detroit on Nov. 4. The 28-year-old played in four games with Baltimore, recording 17 tackles and an interception, while primarily playing in the nickel package.
“Danny came in there and just did a heck of a job, and your heart goes out to him,” Harbaugh said. “He’s playing better and better every week. He’s playing as a starter, and he played really well. He was only getting better.”
The Ravens are in better position to absorb Gorrer’s loss with Jackson returning to action after missing seven games. The 2012 fifth-round pick started against the Dolphins and played 40 of 57 defensive snaps.
Jackson recorded one tackle in his first game since Oct. 5.
“He was good and solid,” Harbaugh said. “He’d get a little over-reactive at times. He jumped a few thing and got a little overanxious — he’d be the first to tell you that — but that’s a good thing because he was moving around so well. He’ll slow himself down a little bit this next game, but he played well.”
Cornerback Anthony Levine remains in the concussion protocol after suffering a head injury early in Sunday’s game and not returning. With his status uncertain, the Ravens will likely offer more reps to young cornerback Rashaan Melvin, who was signed last month but has yet to be active for a game.
Harbaugh said a magnetic resonance imaging exam revealed no structural damage to rookie Crockett Gillmore’s back, calling the injury “muscular” after the third-round pick missed his first game of the season in Miami.
The head coach also said starting running back Justin Forsett “seemed good” after being slowed by a knee injury last week and carrying 13 times for 71 yards and a touchdown. However, rookie back Lorenzo Taliaferro is dealing with a sprain in the foot and ankle area and is considered “day-to-day” in Harbaugh’s words.
