Ravens linebacker Tyus Bowser, left, is expected to make his season debut Monday night against the Saints, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said on Thursday. (Kenneth K. Lam, Baltimore Sun)
Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins is expected to return in three to four weeks, as his left knee surgery was a “smashing success,” coach John Harbaugh said Thursday.
“He has no additional scar tissue since he has come out of there,” Harbaugh said. “That was a key thing in the first couple of days; does scar tissue start to accumulate? It did not.”
Dobbins, who missed the entire 2021 season after tearing his ACL, LCL and meniscus in his left knee, along with his hamstring, in last year’s preseason finale against the Washington Commanders, made his season debut against the New England Patriots in Week 3 but missed the Ravens’ past two games after having arthroscopic surgery. The team placed him on injured reserve after he left their Week 6 game against the New York Giants with tightness in his surgically repaired knee.
Dobbins has 123 yards and a touchdown on 35 carries while catching six passes for 39 yards and a score in four games.
Harbaugh said the MRI did not detect the scar tissue Dobbins had in his knee.
“What he was dealing with was very significant,” Harbaugh said. “For him to get that freed up, I can’t wait until he’s out here running around in three or four weeks.”
Harbaugh happy with trade for Smith
Harbaugh said he was happy about the team trading for inside linebacker Roquan Smith and can’t wait to see him play against the New Orleans Saints on “Monday Night Football.”
Harbaugh called Smith, a two-time All-Pro, a good inside linebacker that moves well.
“He knows how to play the game in there,” he said. “So many things carry over in terms of the ways we play our coverages, so he’s very familiar with what we’re doing. I just think he needs to get used to the terms and things, and that hasn’t been a problem so far.”
With the addition of Smith and the activation of outside linebackers Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo to the 53-man roster, Harbaugh said the team is excited about the new-look defense.
“We’ve just been trying to grow every single day, every way we can with what we have at that point in time,” Harbaugh said. “When you add players like that, that’s a big shot in the arm as well, too, so those guys are doing the same thing; just trying to be their best. Then you go out there and you compete, let it rip, and see what happens.”
Bowser expects to play vs. Saints
Bowser is expected to make his season debut against the Saints, Harbaugh said.
Bowser, who tore his Achilles tendon in last year’s season finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers, was a full participant at practice Thursday.
Harbaugh said Bowser, who had 56 tackles and seven sacks last season, is a “very versatile linebacker” and has all the traits needed at the position.
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Originally published at Tribune News Service