The Ravens are apparently preparing to be without veteran running back Danny Woodhead for an extended period of time.
According to reports from NFL Network and ESPN, the 32-year-old could miss four to eight weeks after re-injuring his left hamstring in the first quarter of Sunday’s 20-0 win over Cincinnati. Woodhead struggled to leave the field after grabbing his left leg in the middle of a pass play and was eventually carted to the locker room. He had caught three passes for 33 yards on Baltimore’s opening drive.
Signed to a three-year, $8.8 million contract in March, Woodhead was envisioned as the Ravens’ primary receiver out of the backfield, leaving a significant void with quarterback Joe Flacco’s propensity for throwing to underneath targets. However, the Ravens were aware of Woodhead’s injury history after he missed a combined 27 games over the previous three seasons.
Head coach John Harbaugh did not confirm how long Woodhead would be sidelined during his Monday press conference, but the extended absence could land him on injured reserve with the plan of a return at some point in the second half of the season. Teams are now allowed to bring two players back from IR after only being permitted one in past seasons.
Should Woodhead be placed on IR, he could return to practice as soon as six weeks later and could then be activated after eight weeks. With Terrance West and Buck Allen being the only healthy tailbacks on the current 53-man roster, the Ravens could promote another running back from the practice squad as former Chicago Bears starter Jeremy Langford and former Seattle Seahawk Alex Collins recently joined the organization.
The Ravens re-signed quarterback Josh Woodrum to their practice squad on Tuesday after he spent a brief period of time with Cleveland. After a solid preseason that garnered some attention within the organization, Woodrum was waived on final cut-down day and subsequently claimed by the Browns.
