Ravens Enter Training Camp With Injury Questions on Defense

The Baltimore Ravens had the unfortunate distinction of being one of the most-mentioned teams on Sports Injury Central during the 2021 NFL season.

Most of that damage was on the defensive end, as starting corners Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters each suffered season-ending injuries in 2021. 

The elite coverage duo will return to a team with two new starting safeties in rookie Kyle Hamilton and free-agent signing Marcus Williams. 

Baltimore also has health issues at a few linebacker spots heading into training camp.

Sophomore strong-side stand out Odafe Oweh is on track to be healthy Week 1 after a December foot injury and offseason shoulder surgery.

The weak-side duo of Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo enter training camp with varying degrees of readiness for Week 1.

Marcus Peters, Marlon Humphrey - SIC score 41, 90

Peters suffered an ACL tear days before Week 1 and will be more limited in his first year back than his teammates in the offensive backfield, according to the Pro Football Docs, because of the importance of the range-of-motion that a strong ACL brings for that particular position. 

In his last full season, the perennial All-Pro corner logged 52 tackles and four interceptions, and it would be fair to expect around half of that production. 

Humphrey, who suffered a season-ending torn right pectoral muscle in Week 13, will be healthy and ready to produce at an elite level from the first snap. 

The Ravens’ No. 14 overall pick, Kyle Hamilton, will be 10 months removed from the mild MCL injury that ended his 2021 season and has a clean bill of health. 

Weak-Side Linebackers – SIC score 37

On January 9, outside linebacker Tyus Bowser suffered a ruptured left Achilles. Three months later, the Ravens drafted another weak-side linebacker in Ojabo, who suffered a ruptured Achilles on March 18.

Bowser has a chance to play Week 1, according to the Pro Football Docs, but has an equal chance to land on the PUP list when training camp opens and be back Week 4 or 5. If he plays from the start of the season, the Docs say he will be severely limited.

Ojabo faces a greater climb to the field as his injury was months later and he will have to recover physically while intaking Baltimore’s defensive playbook.