OWINGS MILLS, Md. — After a summer of highlight catches and optimism, rookie wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane will now have to wait at least four games to continue making his mark for the Ravens.
The third-round pick out of USC who turned heads throughout training camp and the preseason fractured his wrist in the first half of the season-opening win in Indianapolis and underwent surgery Wednesday. Lane has been placed on injured reserve, which means he’ll be required to miss at least four games before being eligible to return.
“I think the minimum IR stay is probably what we’ll be shooting for,” head coach Jesse Minter said. “I know he’ll attack it, and he’ll be back as soon as it is. Whatever the number is, you try to slice a week or two off of that from a player’s competitive standpoint. I know he’ll be champing at the bit to get back.”
It’s an unfortunate development for the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Lane, who beat out veteran Devontez Walker and fellow rookie Elijah Sarratt for the No. 3 wide receiver job during the summer. He was very much involved prior to exiting last Sunday’s game as he was targeted three times and made one catch for 11 yards in 27 snaps. Of course, that didn’t include a 4-yard touchdown catch wiped away by a holding penalty committed by center Jovaughn Gwyn.
Having missed the start of his rookie season with a surgery of his own in 2021, former first-round wide receiver Rashod Bateman offered support to his young teammate.
“I told him, ‘You just never know how your career goes. That’s part of this sport,'” said Bateman, who missed the first five games of his rookie campaign after undergoing groin surgery in August. “I spoke to him and gave him some words of encouragement. He’s definitely beating himself up about it, but it’s only so much he can control, and that’s what I had to teach myself. Injuries are part of the game, and his is unfortunate, but whenever he comes back, he’ll be ready too.”
8Wednesday’s news wasn’t any better on the Zay Flowers front as the two-time Pro Bowl selection didn’t practice as he continues recovering from a left hamstring injury he aggravated late in the first half of the 41-23 victory over the Colts. Minter repeated Monday’s description of Flowers being considered “day to day,” but one would expect Baltimore to exercise caution since the star receiver has been dealing with that same hamstring since late August.
With Flowers now in danger of missing this Sunday’s home opener against New Orleans and Lane on IR, the Ravens have promoted veteran receiver Chris Moore to fill the open spot on the 53-man roster.
It remains to be seen whether two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) will make his long-awaited return to action as he was listed as a limited participant Wednesday. One would assume the Ravens would prefer Madubuike to log at least a full practice or two before playing in a game for the first time since Week 2 of last season.
“I’d say he’s in that day-to-day category as well,” Minter said. “We’ll see how it looks at the end of the week.”
Outside linebacker Trey Hendrickson (finger), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe), and left guard John Simpson (groin) were among the veteran Baltimore players sitting out Wednesday’s practice, making their Thursday status worth monitoring. With backup cornerback T.J. Tampa expected to miss some time with a knee injury suffered in Week 1, the Ravens re-signed veteran defensive back Amani Oruwariye to their practice squad.
Speaking of practice-squad transactions, Minter didn’t rule out the possibility of the Ravens bringing back kicker Jake Moody at some point after releasing him Tuesday, but the organization clearly liked what it saw from Tyler Loop, who connected on field goals from 57 and 45 yards in Indianapolis.
8“You never really know how it’ll go, but again, a lot of confidence in Tyler,” Minter said. “I thought he went out there and did a really good job. We know Jake now. We have a pretty good feel for how he’s doing, so we’ll kind of just see how it shakes out.”
Meanwhile, the Saints hope to welcome back eight-time Pro Bowl defensive end Cam Jordan as he practiced on a limited basis. Jordan injured his hamstring during training camp.
Five-time Pro Bowl running back Alvin Kamara (knee) was a full participant and is expected to make his season debut for New Orleans on Sunday.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DL Calais Campbell (rest), WR Zay Flowers (hamstring), OLB Trey Hendrickson (finger), G John Simpson (groin), OT Ronnie Stanley (toe), CB T.J. Tampa (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: ILB Teddye Buchanan (knee), S Keondre Jackson (shoulder), DT Nnamdi Madubuike (neck)
FULL PARTICIPATION: S Jaylinn Hawkins (chest), WR Devontez Walker (groin)
NEW ORLEANS
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: TE Juwan Johnson (illness), LB Isaiah Stalbird (shoulder)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: TE Oscar Delp (hamstring), DE Cameron Jordan (hamstring)
FULL PARTICIPATION: RB Alvin Kamara (knee)
