2 min read • June 01, 2022
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Third-year running back J.K. Dobbins made an appearance at Ravens’ OTAs for the first time since he suffered a torn left ACL with LCL damage last August.
Baltimore's back of the future wasn’t especially active at OTAs, spending most of his time stationary while catching balls from the jugs machine.
While his appearance is noteworthy, the lack of practice participation signals what the Pro Football Docs have been expecting: that Dobbins will likely begin the regular season on the PUP list as he works his way back to 100%.
He, and his fellow recoveree Gus Edwards, are unlikely to be available to open the season and the Docs would be surprised if either is effective for the Ravens in 2022.
Dobbins was prepping to take the reins as an elite fantasy option when he blew up his knee last preseason.
The ACL tear alone will slow a running back in their first season back on the field – see Saquon Barkley’s 2021 season – but the LCL involvement heightens the worry for the Docs. Multi-ligament tears complicate the reconstruction and return process and will slow his recovery to an even lighter pace.
He was hyper-efficient as a complimentary back to Edwards and Mark Ingram, posting 495 yards and seven touchdowns on a robust 6.43 yards per carry in the final six games of 2020. Much of his success can be attributed to Lamar Jackson’s gravity at the line of scrimmage, but he was expected to continue that torrid pace in his first season as a feature back.
That expectation should be tempered this season, as Dobbins would be lucky to produce at even half that pre-injury pace.
Edwards has been absent from Ravens’ OTAs as he battles back from a Sept. 9 torn ACL. Unlike Dobbins, Edwards’ injury – which occurred mere minutes apart from Marcus Peters’ torn ACL – was contained to his ACL, but he will still have to crawl this season before he was walk.
Because his injury came early in the season, the timeline favors his progression as the season trudges forward, but he is unlikely to be ready to open the season.
There is a reason that the Ravens signed veteran Mike Davis and used a late-round draft pick on a running back; they will need to rely on other options as Edwards works his way into form.
The bruising former undrafted back has been remarkably consistent during his career: in all three full seasons, he rushed between 133 and 144 times for between 711 and 723 yards, adding a career-high six touchdowns in 2020.
Baltimore will need to split their rushing responsibilities between their stable of running backs, not only to lessen the load for Lamar Jackson, but because Dobbins and Edwards won't be ready to handle a full workload in 2022.
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