(Updated 11:30 a.m.)
The Ravens are off to their first 2-0 start in seven years despite being without their best pass rusher, but that could change against Jacksonville as Elvis Dumervil returned to practice on a limited basis on Wednesday.
Head coach John Harbaugh did not refute a recent ESPN report saying that the Pro Bowl outside linebacker was aiming to make his return in Week 3 from offseason foot surgery last month. Activated from the physically unable to perform list on Aug. 22, the 32-year-old only practiced on a limited basis for a few days before suffering a setback and once again being sidelined.
“You’ll know [he has a chance to play] if he practices, in all honesty,” Harbaugh said on Monday. “He has to practice. It’s really in Elvis’ hands. It’s going to be kind of a feel thing for him. There’s soundness there from what I’m told. He feels it. It’s just a matter of whether he feels the strength is there, and the explosion, and everything he needs to go out there and compete.”
With Dumervil out, Albert McClellan has served as the starting strong-side outside linebacker in the base defense opposite veteran rush linebacker Terrell Suggs. Za’Darius Smith and Matt Judon have received more opportunities in pass-rushing situations, especially with Suggs not yet playing at his pre-injury level in returning from last season’s Achilles injury.
The Ravens have mostly relied on their interior pass rush and blitzing to create pressure, but their edge rushers have yet to make a dynamic impact in disrupting the pocket. A healthy Dumervil would figure to change that after accumulating 32 1/2 sacks in his first three seasons with the Ravens.
“I feel like I’m getting close, but I don’t know what close means yet,” Dumervil said last week. “We’re working hard, working with the guys here. I’m really getting better, so looking forward to really soon.”
Baltimore is also hoping to welcome back rookie running back Kenneth Dixon sooner rather than later. The fourth-round pick suffered a torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee on Aug. 27 and was still wearing a brace as of last week. He was expected to miss around four weeks at the time of the injury.
Beyond those preexisting conditions entering the start of the season, the Ravens have remained healthy through their first two games. It’s quite a contrast from this time last year when they’d already lost Suggs for the season and two other starters — Eugene Monroe and Chris Canty — to multi-week injuries.
“We just have to keep work on getting healthy,” Harbaugh said. “We have a few guys that are trying to get back right now. I’m very hopeful, very hopeful to get those guys back soon. We didn’t have anything serious — it doesn’t look like — coming out of that [Cleveland] game. We are very grateful for that.”
