OWINGS MILLS, MD. — Running back J.K. Dobbins was activated from the Physically Unable to Perform list and returned to practice on Aug. 8, his first official action since suffering a torn ACL in the preseason finale last year.
Dobbins took part in individual drills with the running backs, then did some work on a side field with trainers. During team periods, Dobbins watched at times from a cooling tent before leaving the field with about an hour left in practice. He was clearly happy to be back in uniform, with hugs and handshakes for a lot of people on the sideline.
“I thought he looked pretty good in individual, first day back,” head coach John Harbaugh said. “… That will be the first step. Maybe we add a little bit more every day and kind of see how he handles it, and see how the knee responds. But it seems like it’s so far, so good.”
Harbaugh has preached patience and caution with the third-year player who is expected to be the team’s No. 1 running back, but it’s clear that Dobbins has been itching to get back on the field. Early in training camp, Dobbins was seen on the sideline pleading his case with general manager Eric DeCosta and others before taking part in some post-practice work with trainers.
Last month, Dobbins made headlines when he proclaimed on social media that he “damn sure” would be ready to play in Week 1, refuting a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport that Dobbins might miss some time at the beginning of the season.
Dobbins, 23, had 134 carries for 805 yards and nine touchdowns — a Ravens rookie record — in 2020, and many in the national media pegged him to be a breakout star last season. Instead, he tore his left ACL in the final preseason game, the first of three injuries that decimated the Ravens running back room.
Gus Edwards (ACL) and Justice Hill (Achilles) also suffered season-ending injuries before the season even began. Hill returned to practice this spring and has had a strong start to training camp, while Edwards remains on the PUP list and is considered questionable to be ready for the regular season.
The Ravens signed veteran running backs Mike Davis and Corey Clement this offseason, and they are competing with Hill, Nate McCrary and rookie Tyler Badie for roster spots.
“We’re all family,” Hill said as he met with the media after practice Aug. 8. “We all just want to see each other succeed. We all come out here, we bring different things to the table, and we’re just going to compete.”
NOTEBOOK
STEPHENS STILL OUT, BATEMAN RETURNS: Cornerback Brandon Stephens (soft-tissue issue) missed his sixth straight practice, and cornerback Marlon Humphrey sat out a second straight workout. In addition to Stephens, Humphrey and those on the PUP list, other absences included tackle David Sharpe, tight end Charlie Kolar (sports hernia), rookie wide receiver Devin Williams and safety Tony Jefferson. Wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who had missed two practices, was back on the field.
HARBAUGH DISPUTES REPORT OF LISFRANC INJURY FOR LINDERBAUM: The NFL Network reported that rookie center Tyler Linderbaum is dealing with a Lisfranc sprain in his foot, a reoccurrence of an injury he played through at Iowa. Head coach John Harbaugh, though, disputed that prognosis, saying, “That’s not true. It’s not a Lisfranc sprain. … It’s a different ligament. It’s not that ligament. It’s a different ligament.
“There’s no separation, there’s no Lisfranc sprain, per se. That’s my understanding,” he added. “I’m not a doctor, but I play one in press conferences, as you know. But that’s what I was told.”
Harbaugh said last week that Linderbaum would probably be out a week or two, and that remains the timetable for now.
HAMILTON, OWEH SHINE FOR DEFENSE: Rookie safety Kyle Hamilton had a strong practice, going 3-0 against tight end Isaiah Likely in a 1-on-1 drill, and then ranging to his right and elevating for his first interception of training camp. Hamilton ran across the field with a long interception return, and offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris had to be light on his feet to avoid getting caught up in the traffic.
Matchups between Hamilton and Likely have been among the most entertaining in the competitive 1-on-1 drills. In this practice, Hamilton won all three matchups. The first pass for Likely was low, and then Hamilton got a hand in to break up a pass that was slightly behind Likely, and he broke up the third pass as well.
Edge rusher Odafe Oweh, meanwhile, essentially recorded a safety in an 11-on-11 period in which the offense was backed up near its goal line. Oweh beat tackle Ju’Wuan James, and then worked past fullback Patrick Ricard to get to Lamar Jackson in the end zone. Oweh has seemingly had at least one sack every practice.
HILL, PROCHE HAUL IN BIG CATCHES: The offense looked out of sync at times, but it had its moments. Lamar Jackson went 6-for-7 during a no-huddle period, including a long pass to Justice Hill down the left sideline. Hill ran a wheel route and got about two steps on linebacker Josh Bynes. Jackson’s pass was right on target.
Wide receiver James Proche had another good day. He elevated to make a tough contested catch in the middle of the field in full-team drills, and in the 1-on-1 drill, he went 2-0, catching deep passes against cornerback Kyle Fuller.
RAVENS PLACE BIEGEL ON IR, SIGN WORLEY: The Ravens placed linebacker Vince Biegel on injured reserve with a torn Achilles and signed cornerback Daryl Worley, who was with the team briefly last season. Biegel, 29, was getting a lot of first-team reps at outside linebacker this spring with Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo still sidelined by Achilles injuries, but then Biegel tore his Achilles in practice on Aug. 4.
Worley, 27, was with the team briefly last season after being signed in the wake of a rash of injuries in the secondary. He played in one game, with five tackles in a 41-21 loss at Cincinnati, and spent the final two weeks of the season on the practice squad.
RAVENS BEAT THE HEAT WITH FUMBLE DRILL: The Ravens found a way to beat the heat at the end of practice: One at a time, rookies tried to recover a fumble in the “rain” that came from a big hose held by Lamar Jackson and others. Kevin Zeitler took the hose from Jackson when it was Daniel Faalele’s turn to pounce on the loose ball, and then kicker Justin Tucker pelted rookie punter Jordan Stout.
“That was an idea that came up last night in the coaches meeting,” Harbaugh said, “so we did it. It was fun. Recover a fumble in the rain, right? Also, get the rookies good and wet. Spray the hose right in their face, that’s what I saw. So they had a good time with it.”
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