OWINGS MILLS, MD. — Ravens Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey was set to have surgery to repair a foot injury and could miss some time into the regular season, head coach John Harbaugh said Aug. 16.
Humphrey becomes the latest and most significant loss to a position group that already has been ravaged by injuries this summer.
Humphrey had practiced throughout training camp and made no mention of an injury when he spoke with the media after the team’s joint practice with the Washington Commanders on Aug. 15. But during the teams’ second joint workout at the Ravens’ Under Armour Performance Center here, reports surfaced about Humphrey’s pending surgery.
“He is getting foot surgery today,” Harbaugh confirmed after practice, noting that it was too early to gauge a time frame for recovery.
“It’s not going to be a long-term deal, though,” he added.
NFL Network reported he could be out a month or more, which would sideline him for the start of the regular season.
Harbaugh said the injury was a “lingering” issue that Humphrey and the medical staff decided to address now.
Humphrey played all 17 games last season and finished with 71 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions and seven passes defensed. He was named to the Pro Bowl for the third time in the past four seasons and is one of the unquestioned leaders of the secondary. Given the depth issues in the secondary, other than quarterback Lamar Jackson, Humphrey might be the player the Ravens can least afford to lose for an extended period of time.
Humphrey joins four other cornerbacks who have missed extensive camp time with injuries: Rock Ya-Sin, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Arthur Maulet and Damarion “Pepe” Williams. Williams had ankle surgery this week and will be sidelined into the season, Harbaugh said, while the other three are getting close to returning to the field.
The Ravens moved on from Marcus Peters after the season and signed Ya-Sin to start opposite Humphrey. They also expect contributions from second-year players Armour-Davis and Williams, but now all four are injured.
In the spring, Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta had said the lack of cornerback depth is “a fast way to get beat.”
The Ravens already this summer added Maulet and journeyman Tae Hayes, claimed via waivers, but their search for cornerback help continues. DeCosta might have to consider trade options and surely will be tracking other teams’ roster cuts.
If the season started today, Brandon Stephens and Kevon Seymour likely would be the two starting outside cornerbacks. Daryl Worley, who has made the transition from corner to full-time safety this summer, might be pressed into cornerback duty.
Beyond them, the Ravens would have to rely on fifth-round rookie Kyu Blu Kelly, who has made little impact in training camp, or an undrafted rookie group that includes Jordan Swann, Jeremy Lucien and Corey Mayfield Jr. Ar’Darius Washington is the potential starter at slot corner.
Linebacker Roquan Smith said the next-man up philosophy spells opportunity for someone else to “show the coaching staff exactly what you can do when your name is called. … We’re here to cheer them on, and we expect them to make the same type of plays as a Marlo as well.”
Humphrey’s injury lingering into the season could be a major factor in the AFC North. The Ravens play three AFC North opponents, all on the road, in the first five weeks of the season. They are at Cincinnati in Week 2 (Sept. 17), then travel to Cleveland in Week 4 (Oct. 1) and Pittsburgh in Week 5 (Oct. 8).
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