The Ravens have waited a while to redeploy their optimal one-two running back punch. The team will wait until at least October for its J.K. Dobbins–Gus Edwards attack to return.
While both players missed all of last season due to ACL tears, Edwards landed on Baltimore’s reserve/PUP list Tuesday. He will be shut down for the Ravens’ first four games.
John Harbaugh recently expressed doubt about Edwards’ Week 1 status, but the 15th-year Ravens HC does expect the veteran back to be full speed later in 2022. Edwards went down during a 2021 preseason practice, suffering his ACL tear within minutes of Marcus Peters‘ season-nullifying knee injury. Peters is on track to make his return in Week 1, illustrating the differences in timelines these injuries can cause.
Edwards, 27, signed a Ravens extension months before suffering the injury. His three-year, $12.38MM deal included $8MM fully guaranteed. The contract runs through the 2023 season. The longtime Baltimore off-the-bench back ripped off three straight 700-plus-yard seasons to start his career, averaging north of five yards per carry in each.
Dobbins returned to practice two weeks ago, but the Ravens are carefully ramping up their starter for work. Dobbins, who went down barely a week before Edwards last year, also suffered meniscus damage. The Ravens’ batch of 2021 replacement options is no longer on the team, with veteran Mike Davis and sixth-round rookie Tyler Badie now representing Dobbins-Edwards insurance.