Ravens Suffer Devastating Injuries to Edwards, Peters, Sign Veteran Freeman
Ravens head coach John Harbaugh cut Thursday’s practice short after running back Gus Edwards went down with what is feared to be an ACL injury. Just minutes before Edwards went down cornerback Marcus Peters had fallen to the turf with what is being reported as a “significant knee injury”.
Two key contributors on each side of the ball, both likely out for the season with knee injuries suffered just mere minutes apart is largely unheard of and extremely unlucky for a Ravens team that has dealt with many several injuries over the last couple months.
The Ravens have been snakebitten with injuries throughout training camp. Many of the injuries early in camp were not significant in nature and mostly ravaged the wide receiver position with Marquise Brown, Sammy Watkins, and Miles Boykin sidelined with varying injuries. However, the Ravens first major injury was suffered by Ravens first round pick Rashad Bateman who went down before the first preseason game with a groin tear. Likely sidelining the rookie for 6-8 weeks. Veteran linebacker L.J Fort suffered a torn ACL in the Ravens second preseason game, ending his season.
But over the last few weeks the Ravens have suffered three significant injuries to the running back position. Beginning with running back J.K. Dobbins who suffered a season ending knee injury in the Ravens final preseason game. Last week running back Justice Hill who missed a large portion of training camp with an ankle injury returned to practice, only to suffer an achilles injury that would place the second year back on season ending injured reserve. Leading up to Thursday’s practice in which workhorse running back Gus Edwards, poised to see an increase in production after Dobbins injury will likely have his season cut short.
The injury to Marcus Peters leaves the Ravens without another playmaking corner, that has been one of the best in the league since becoming a Raven midway through the 2019 season. The Ravens are deep at the corner position and its likely that third year corner Anthony Averett will be the next man up, with Jimmy Smith able to rotate in as well if healthy.
The Ravens signed free agent Le’veon Bell on Tuesday to their practice squad after working the veteran out on Monday. In addition to Bell the Ravens also signed third year running back Trenton Cannon to the active roster. Cannon, a sixth round draft pick by the New York Jets has had minimal production in the NFL. Cannon was most recently with the Carolina Panthers but was waived during final cuts. Cannon looked to fill Hills role on special teams, but will now possibly see an increased role in the Ravens offense.
Bell wasn’t the only running back to work out for the Ravens on Monday. Former Falcons running back Devonta Freeman worked out for the team but was not immediately signed. But after Thursday’s injury to to Gus Edwards, the 29-year old was quickly signed to the Ravens practice squad. Freeman at this time is likely to be added to the active roster over Bell for week one, seeing as Freeman had been through offseason camp with the New Orleans Saints before being cut at the end of August.
Ty’Son Williams and Trenton Cannon are currently the only running backs on the Ravens active roster, as the Ravens are four days away from their week one Monday night matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders.
