On his first contact in a significant NFL recreation in 20 months, Ravens operating again J.Ok. Dobbins caught a go within the flat, squared his hips to New England Patriots cornerback Jonathan Jones, burst to his left and delivered a see-you-later stiff arm.
On his second contact since tearing the ACL, LCL, meniscus and hamstring in his left leg in final 12 months’s preseason finale, Dobbins probed a spot on a zone-running play, swiveling from left to proper as he powered off his surgically repaired knee for a 3-yard acquire.
On the sixth contact of his long-awaited return to the Ravens’ high-octane offense, Dobbins spun freed from security Jabrill Peppers behind the road of scrimmage, steadied his toes and fell ahead for an additional 3 yards.
“That [move] just comes normal,” he stated after the Ravens’ 37-26 win in Gillette Stadium. “I didn’t try to do it; it just happened. Hopefully, I’ll get more opportunities to do stuff like that in the future. We’ll see.”
Even if Dobbins’ remaining stats Sunday didn’t appear like a lot — seven carries for 23 yards, two catches for 17 yards ― his season debut provided an encouraging baseline for the months forward. Coach John Harbaugh stated Dobbins was “exceptional” in his first recreation for the reason that Ravens’ season-ending playoff loss in January 2021, a smaller cog in a dashing offense that rolled up 188 yards on 26 carries.
Dobbins, who as a rookie led all NFL operating backs in yards per carry, wasn’t the Ravens’ finest rusher Sunday — that was quarterback Lamar Jackson (11 carries for 107 yards). Nor was Dobbins the crew’s best operating again — that was Justice Hill (six carries for 60 yards). But he was accessible and dependable. And he stated afterward that he can do extra.
“I feel like I’ve still got some work to do,” he stated. “The more opportunities, the more I feel better about myself.”
Dobbins’ availability for Week 3 was a thriller till the weekend. Despite a full week of follow every week earlier, he hadn’t been activated for the Ravens’ Week 2 loss to the Miami Dolphins. After three extra days with out exercise limitations final week, Harbaugh indicated that Dobbins’ wait would possibly proceed, saying Friday: “We have certain parameters that we’re looking at and things like that, and it’s not going to be too long.”
Dobbins, although, stated he knew as early as the beginning of final week that he’d swimsuit up in opposition to the Patriots. On Saturday night time, he stated his feelings have been “high.” But when he stepped onto the sector Sunday, he stated he wasn’t anxious about taking a success. He simply needed to make a play.
“Blessed to be back out there,” he stated. “I’m the type of guy that — yes, I got back out there, I’m blessed, I’m happy about that — but now it’s time for me to try to do what I do. And that’s run for 100 yards and stuff like that.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com