The Ravens have been second within the NFL in dashing final season with 2,720 yards, however they may have a cause to be at the least a bit involved about their floor recreation going into this one.
Starting operating again J.Okay. Dobbins reported to the workforce’s necessary three-day minicamp earlier this week, however the 2020 second-round choose didn’t take part in any of it. He additionally skipped three weeks of voluntary organized workforce actions earlier than that.
Following the ultimate observe of the offseason Thursday, which Dobbins was additionally absent from, the message from coach John Harbaugh was clear.
“I expected J.K. to practice,” he stated. “It wasn’t in the cards apparently.”
Though Dobbins was on the workforce’s facility in Owings Mills on Monday and even appeared in a promotional video put out by the workforce, he missed the primary observe on Tuesday due to an obvious minor tender tissue damage. Then he didn’t take part within the subsequent two practices, both.
Harbaugh stated he didn’t have any damage issues over Dobbins, nonetheless, and that he expects him again in time for coaching camp, which begins in late July.
But Dobbins, who’s coming into the ultimate 12 months of his rookie contract, has solid a possible shadow over his future in Baltimore.
Earlier this month, the previous Ohio State standout despatched out a sequence of cryptic tweets expressing his love for the Ravens and a want to complete his profession in Baltimore earlier than including “IDK tho sadly,” which he later deleted. He additionally hasn’t spoken to the media because the Ravens’ AFC wild-card-round loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, after which he expressed his displeasure along with his lack of carries in that recreation.
When Harbaugh was requested earlier this month concerning the tweets, he stated he hadn’t seen them however was conscious of them.
“We want him back, but who knows the future?” he stated.
Dobbins’ previous may present one thing of a solution — however actually not a transparent one.
Despite averaging 5.9 yards per carry in his profession and dashing for 1,325 yards and 11 touchdowns, he has missed 27 of fifty regular-season video games due to accidents.
Dobbins tore his ACL, LCL, meniscus and hamstring within the 2021 preseason finale. After 13 months of adverse rehabilitation, he returned however then missed one other six video games in the course of final season after present process arthroscopic knee surgical procedure to take away scar tissue.
When wholesome, Dobbins has been a important a part of the offense.
In 2020, he rushed for 805 yards and 9 touchdowns in 15 video games. Last season, he had 520 yards and two touchdowns in eight video games, together with 397 yards on 57 carries with a landing over a four-game span following his return in December.
But if Dobbins is hoping for a long-term, big-money extension from the Ravens, that could be extra elusive.
The marketplace for operating backs is hard, as few groups have been prepared to present large cash to even the best gamers. It’s why New York Giants star Saquon Barkley, for instance, boycotted their three-day necessary minicamp and why the Minnesota Vikings launched Dalvin Cook.
Harbaugh, in the meantime, hoped to see Dobbins again on the sector this offseason to work with new offensive coordinator Todd Monken.
“It’s going to be interesting how he fits in, because J.K. has a lot of dynamic ability — backfield, motion, wide plays, inside plays, as a receiver out of the backfield. I think he’s got a lot of potential,” Harbaugh stated Tuesday. “I’m very excited about J.K. and how he’s going to fit in here.”
With Gus Edwards restricted to drills as he continues to strengthen his knee after struggling a torn ACL in 2021 that stored him out till halfway by final season, Justice Hill carried a lot of the workload. The 25-year-old noticed a heavy dose of motion operating and catching the ball.
Harbaugh favored what he noticed from the fourth-year again.
“All those reps helped him,” he stated. “Repetition is the name of the game. You get better or you get worse. … Some of these are self-evident truths. Justice made the most of [his opportunity].”
Dobbins’ probability to do the identical now has to attend till late July when the Ravens return for coaching camp.
What occurs by way of a brand new contract for Dobbins additionally stays to be seen, however the message from Harbaugh was once more clear on the place he expects his operating again to be later this summer time.
“I do want to see all the starters out there during training camp,” he stated. “We need that. They need to be out there practicing. When they’re not, that’s something you have to overcome.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com