OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The Ravens concluded their first week of organized team activities with a workout in which 80 of the 89 players on their current offseason roster were participating.
One of the lone surprises among the absentees was two-time Pro Bowl inside linebacker C.J. Mosley, who underwent an offseason shoulder surgery that hadn’t previously been reported.
“C.J. is doing all the conditioning, and he has been at all the walk-throughs and all the meetings,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “He had the shoulder surgery, so he is out.”
The Ravens exercised their fifth-year option on the 2014 first-round pick last month, which keeps him under contract through the 2018 season. Despite dealing with hamstring and calf injuries in 2016, Mosley was named to his second Pro Bowl, collecting 92 tackles and four interceptions in 14 games.
Mosley isn’t the only veteran player recovering from offseason shoulder surgery as six-time Pro Bowl right guard Marshal Yanda isn’t expected to return to the practice field until training camp. He played with the injury most of last season and even switched to left guard as a result.
Harbaugh said 15th-year outside linebacker Terrell Suggs has been taking part in offseason workouts, but the Ravens have elected to keep him out of OTA workouts so far. The 34-year-old’s presence in the building this time of year is surprising considering he’s regularly skipped voluntary spring workouts ahead of the mid-June mandatory minicamp in recent years.
“I am holding him out,” Harbaugh said. “He is in here training every single day and killing himself and doing a great job on the conditioning part of it.”
Others not participating on Thursday included tight ends Benjamin Watson (Achilles tendon surgery), Maxx Williams (knee surgery), and Darren Waller (unspecified), cornerbacks Kyle Arrington (concussion) and Carlos Davis (lower leg), and guard Jarrell Broxton (unspecified). All three of the non-participating tight ends were watching practice on the sideline.
Williams underwent a season-ending procedure on his knee last fall that’s never been performed on an NFL player, according to Harbaugh. Specifics were vague, but the Ravens coach said it was related to the meniscus and cartilage in his knee and has been deemed successful. The 2015 second-round pick has been participating in offseason conditioning and workouts this spring.
“It is one of those deals that they have not done before, and so far, so good,” Harbaugh said. “It has really held up really well, and it looks like we are going to have him full speed in training camp. I am counting on that.”
With much concern being expressed about the state of the offensive line following the offseason departures of right tackle Rick Wagner and center Jeremy Zuttah, the first-team group on Thursday included Ronnie Stanley at left tackle, Alex Lewis at left guard, Ryan Jensen at center, John Urschel filling in for Yanda at right guard, and James Hurst at right tackle. Harbaugh left open the possibility of Lewis shifting to another spot, but the current plan is for him to remain at left guard where the organization feels he’s at his best.
Needing to replace two starters on their defensive line, the Ravens primarily lined up 2015 third-round pick Carl Davis at the 3-technique defensive tackle spot and 2014 fourth-round pick Brent Urban at the 5-technique defensive end position. Those jobs were previously held by Timmy Jernigan and Lawrence Guy.
