OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Ravens linebacker Vince Biegel tore his Achilles tendon at practice on Aug. 4, adding to mounting depth concerns for the Ravens’ edge rush group.
Biegel was carted off the field near the end of a 2.5-hour workout in scorching heat at the team’s Under Armour Performance Center. Head coach John Harbaugh later confirmed the extent of the injury, which he said came “during a two-on-two drill and [he] just leaned the wrong way.”
Biegel, who turned 29 last month, was signed by the Ravens in May after spending the past three seasons with the Miami Dolphins. He missed the entire 2020 season with a torn Achilles, then returned to action last year and played in five games.
Biegel (6-foot-3, 246 pounds) has experience at both outside and inside linebacker. He had been playing primarily on the edge for the Ravens and had enjoyed a strong start to training camp.
“Vince was fighting to make the team,” Harbaugh said. “He would have had a great chance to make it, because he’s just a solid, tough, talented guy who does everything exactly right as hard as he can.”
The Ravens’ outside linebacker group is still without Tyus Bowser, who is recovering from a torn Achilles suffered during the 2021 season finale in January, and Harbaugh didn’t offer a timetable for his return. Rookie second-round pick David Ojabo has yet to practice. He is likely out until at least November after tearing an Achilles at Michigan’s Pro Day in March.
The outside linebacker group was also rocked by tragedy in June when Jaylon Ferguson died of combined effects of fentanyl and cocaine, according to Maryland’s office of the chief medical examiner.
The team re-signed veteran Justin Houston last month, and he and second-year player Odafe Oweh top a thin edge group. Houston did not practice Aug. 4, possibly getting a vet day off, while Oweh at one point blew past tackle Jaryd Jones-Smith for a sack. He looks primed for a big second season.
Behind them, the edge group without Biegel, Bowser and Ojabo is down to veteran Steven Means, Daelin Hayes, who played in just one game last year as a rookie, and undrafted rookies Jeremiah Moon and Chuck Wiley.
NOTEBOOK
LINDERBAUM LEAVES EARLY: Rookie center Tyler Linderbaum left practice early with an apparent leg or foot injury after he appeared to get caught up in the wash during a running-game drill. After being attended to by trainers, Linderbaum walked to the locker room under his own power, and head coach John Harbaugh said, “They’ll do an MRI on it to make sure, but all indications are it’s nothing serious at all.”
DUVERNAY, STEPHENS REMAIN SIDELINED, HAMILTON RETURNS: Wide receiver Devin Duvernay (thigh bruise) missed his fourth straight practice and cornerback Brandon Stephens remained sidelined for a third consecutive day. Rookie safety Kyle Hamilton, who had left practice early on Aug. 3, was back on the field and participated fully. Hamilton, cornerback David Vereen, wide receiver Jaylon Moore and running back Nate McCrary all had issues with cramps in the heat on Aug. 3, but all were back on the field a day later.
HARBAUGH PAUSES PRACTICE BECAUSE OF HEAT: The team took a 15-minute practice break in the blistering heat, with many players retreating to the team’s facility and others huddling in cooling tents placed on the practice fields. Harbaugh said he acted on the recommendation of Dr. Andrew Tucker, the team’s chief medical officer, as the heat index reached triple digits. While the players cooled off, Harbaugh walked over to one of the sections of bleachers and held an impromptu question-and-answer session with fans.
PROCHE, LIKELY STAND OUT: Wide receiver James Proche and rookie tight end Isaiah Likely both flashed during the Aug. 4 workout. Quarterback Lamar Jackson and Proche connected on a touchdown of 60-plus yards after Proche got a step behind safety Chuck Clark and Jackson dropped the pass right in Proche’s arms. Proche also had a nice grab near the pylon in a red-zone drill, giving a high-five to the official at the goal line signaling a score.
Likely, meanwhile, shined in a red-zone 7-on-7 drill. The 6-foot-4 Likely went up and over 5-foot-11 safety Geno Stone to haul in one touchdown grab, and then on the next snap, Likely beat rookie linebacker Diego Fagot for another score.
It wasn’t all pretty for the offense, though; in an early 11-on-11 sequence, a span of eight offensive snaps included two sacks and three penalties. Patrick Queen would have had a sack as he barreled up the middle and side-stepped a block by Justice Hill, and later Broderick Washington would have had a sack after Daelin Hayes forced Jackson to his left and into Washington, who has had a steady camp in the defensive interior.
HUMPHREY DOES IT ALL: Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey rarely takes a practice rep off, and in fact sometimes he finds ways to add to them. Late in a special teams drill, Humphrey donned one of the yellow helmet covers worn by reserves and sprinted downfield with the third-team kickoff coverage unit.
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