The Baltimore Ravens got their first real look at center Matt Skura this offseason, but apparently, he’s just not 100% ready to go. The Ravens announced via Twitter they’ve placed Skura on the active physically unable to perform (PUP) list at training camp.
Skura heading to the PUP list shouldn’t be very shocking. He suffered a gruesome knee injury last season, tearing his ACL, PCL, MCL, and dislocating his knee cap in Week 11. Though Skura has been keeping fans updated on his comeback with a series of workout videos, those types of knee injuries take serious time to get back 100% physically. Beyond that, there’s the mental side of a knee injury like that, with many players needing another year to actually return to form in games.
Skura’s placement on the PUP list doesn’t mean he’s done for the year, however. Skura can return to training camp practices once cleared by Baltimore’s medical staff. That gives him the chance to continue rehabilitating with the Ravens’ trainers, something that’s been difficult to do with the coronavirus pandemic forcing everyone to remain socially distant. It’s also an open window to return to the team before the end of the offseason and potentially still start come Week 1.
However, it also means Baltimore is likely to start looking a little harder at other options on its roster right now, in the event Skura isn’t ready to return for the regular season.
Patrick Mekari filled in well at center following Skura’s injury last season. It would make sense Mekari is penciled into the starting role right now in training camp, though he’s likely going to see some competition as well. Bradley Bozeman started at left guard last season but with an influx of guards on the roster and not as many experienced players at center, he could be in the running for the starting job if necessary. UDFAs Sean Pollard and Trystan Colon-Castillo could also be in the mix for a spot on the 53-man roster as well, though it seems unlikely they’d be put into the starting lineup if there were more experienced players available.
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