Category: Injuries

Ravens HC John Harbaugh provides an injury update on RB Keaton Mitchell

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave an injury update on running back Keaton Mitchell

The Baltimore Ravens signed running back Keaton Mitchell as an undrafted free agent out of East Carolina University following the 2023 NFL draft. He made the team come out of training camp and burst onto the scene after recovering from an early-season stint on injured reserve.

Unfortunately for Mitchell, his 2023 was cut short after he suffered a torn ACL late in the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh gave an update on Mitchell, saying he’s “doing really well.”

“Yes. I think Keaton [Mitchell] is doing really well. We’ll see. Obviously, [it was a] significant knee injury, but we have some experience with that. I’ve gotten some updates from our trainers and  doctors, and we feel like he’s on path to come back at some point this season. Running back-wise, we’ll assess the market like we always do. There are some players out there, still, that are pretty interesting players. The Draft is another way for us to get better, and we’ll attack it in different ways depending on the situation [and] depending on the value that we see. We’ve drafted guys, we’ve signed undrafted free agents, we’ve traded for running backs, and there are a lot of ways to skin the cat, so to speak. So, we’ll look at it. We feel really good about Justice [Hill], too. Justice Hill was one of the unsung heroes of our team, I would say, in 2023, so the cupboard’s not bare. We got this guy, so I think we’re in good shape.”

It’s unclear when Mitchell will return from his injury, but when he does, he’s set to play a significant role in Baltimore’s backfield. Recently signed Derrick Henry will be the team’s No. 1 back, but Mitchell will have a role.

Shoulder surgeries continue disappointing career starts of Cowboys’ Smith, Schoonmaker

Dallas revealed their two top draft picks from 2023 are going to be out for the duration of the offseason calendar. | From @ArmyChiefW3

This past season was essentially a wash for the Cowboys’ 2023 draft class. None of the first three players selected for the club were able to make a significant impact last year, a rare occasion for a club with a reputation for knocking drafts out the park. Second-year impact is now the focus, but that hasn’t gotten off to a great start, either.

Talking at the NFL’s spring league meetings, Dallas Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy revealed that 2023 first-round pick Mazi Smith underwent shoulder surgery this offseason. The injury news didn’t stop there as he revealed second-round tight end Luke Schoonmaker also had shoulder surgery. The Michigan product injured himself during training and underwent the procedure last week.

Smith underwent the surgery shortly after the season concluded and is He’s expected to miss anywhere between four-to-six months, making him unavailable to participate in upcoming OTAs and mini camps.

Dallas used the 26th overall pick on the massive defensive tackle from Michigan in hopes of shoring up their run defense. His rookie season did not go as planned and his play was overshadowed by weight loss questions. Something McCarthy also addressed on the second day of the league gatherings.

Smith played in all 17 games his rookie season but only lined up for 28% of the overall snaps. With the Cowboys reluctant to bring in any outside free agents, expecting Smith to play a significant role in year two has social media in an uproar. This is especially true after veteran defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins chose to sign with Seattle over Dallas.

Schoonmaker’s timeline is expected to be similar to that of Smith. The backup tight end caught eight passes for 65 yards and two touchdowns in his rookie season.

Both players will miss the majority of team activities but should be ready for training camp tentatively scheduled for late July.

Dallas lost third-round pick DeMarvion Overshown for the season in the final preseason game last year with a torn left ACL. Before the injury, the linebacker turned heads during training camp which could have given this class a different feel.

How worriesome is Jrue Holiday’s arm injury for the Boston Celtics?

Fans of the Celtics have admittedly been looking under rocks for things to worry about.

Fans of the Boston Celtics have admittedly been looking under rocks for things to worry about with the team with a stranglehold on the NBA’s top record. And for a hot second it seemed like they had found a legitimate concern to furrow their brows over.

That concern would of course be the health of Jrue Holiday‘s arm after the UCLA alum missed multiple games due to a hard collision that left the appendage feeling subprime. Some were diagnosing the malady as “dead arm,” leading to more than a few frantic searches of medical sites by untrained professionals taking shots in the dark as to when Holiday might return.

The hosts of the CLNS Media “How Bout Them Celtics!” and “Talkin’ Cs” podcasts took a closer look at the injury in light of recent news. Check it out below.

If you enjoy this pod, check out the “How Bout Them Celtics,” “First to the Floor,” and the many other New England sports podcasts available on the CLNS Media network.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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49ers hopeful for Talanoa Hufanga return in training camp

Talanoa Hufanga is on track for a training camp return, which is great news for him and the 49ers. Here’s what it means for the 49ers’ roster:

The 49ers may have solved their safety depth conundrum. There were questions about Talanoa Hufanga’s availability after he tore his ACL in Week 11 last season, but head coach Kyle Shanahan on Tuesday indicated the team is hopeful it will get its starting strong safety back during training camp.

This is a pretty significant development for San Francisco, and it means their hunt for a safety in free agency will be for a depth piece instead of a starter. With Hufanga on track for a pre-Week 1 return the ambiguity of the need in the back end of the secondary is eliminated.

San Francisco will still want to add veteran depth. They need some kind of proven commodity behind Hufanga in the event of a setback or if he can’t return to full speed as quickly as they might like. However, it wouldn’t be a huge surprise to see them add a player via the draft to try and develop as a long-term piece for them with Hufanga entering the final year of his rookie contract.

For now though this is great news for Hufanga. He’ll not only be able to shore up the 49ers’ secondary, but he’ll have a full season under his belt as he hits his first free agency. The All-Pro safety was a fifth-round pick in the 2021 draft. He was a First-Team All-Pro in 2022, his first year as a starter, and was putting together another strong 2023 campaign when he got hurt.

Hufanga has started 30 of his 42 games for the 49ers, including 27 in a row before his injury. He’s posted 181 tackles, seven tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks, two forced fumbles, seven interceptions and 14 pass breakups.

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Ryan Ramczyk’s injury outlook has taken a dramatic turn for 2024 and beyond

Ryan Ramczyk isn’t making the desired progress after his knee surgery, and there is a “real possibility” he will not be able to play in 2024 and beyond:

Whatever news the New Orleans Saints have received in the last month about Ryan Ramczyk’s health has drastically changed their tone on his 2024 outlook. At the end of February, Dennis Allen described Ramczyk’s surgery as a little clean-up procedure, and said “He’s got a knee that he and we are going to have to manage, but we feel much better about where he’s at today than where he was a month, month and a half ago.”

Fast forward a month and now it’s unsure if he’ll play next season at all. Allen shared bad news with reporters at NFL ownership meetings on Tuesday. It sounds like the surgery was initially thought to be successful, but Ramczyk’s knee is not responding well. This is concerning for the future. His knee has been an issue for a while. The Saints have been mitigating it with set rest days during the week. If his knee isn’t responding well to the surgery, his career may be over. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that the Saints are bracing for life without him in 2024 and, possibly, beyond.

Offensive tackle now jumps back to the top of the list of Saints draft needs. You can’t hope Ramczyk will fully recover over the next five months. You need to plan for his replacement. Not doing so will only set New Orleans up for failure. Ramczyk could end up being healthy enough to play next season, but it’s clear his time in football is winding down.

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Seahawks injury updates: No timetable for right tackle Abe Lucas to return

Seattle went 0/3 with their replacements for Lucas last season.

Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald met with the media this morning in Orlando at the annual league meetings. Macdonald shared some interesting nuggets during that conversation, including an update on right tackle Abe Lucas, who recently underwent knee surgery. Macdonald says that he’s optimistic that Lucas can return in time for Week 1 but there is currently no timetable for his recovery – per Brady Henderson at ESPN.

The chronic knee injury that dates back to Lucas’ time at Washington State kept him on the sidelines for 11 games last season. Seattle went 0/3 with their replacements, watching Jake Curhan, Stone Forsythe and Jason Peters all bomb at right tackle in his place.

The Seahawks added some insurance to their roster recently in case Lucas has to miss significant time again. The team has re-signed former offensive tackle George Fant, who should serve as the No. 1 backup option behind both Lucas and left tackle Charles Cross.

Seahawks players are scheduled to report to the VMAC for the beginning of the offseason program on April 8.

More Seahawks Wire stories

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National reaction to NFL banning the hip drop tackle

We’re looking at the player and media reaction to the NFL banning the hip drop tackle at the NFL owners meetings

Defensive coaches around the league will have to do their job even more efficiently after the NFL formally voted to make the hip drop tackle illegal and a 15-yard penalty.

Here are the detailed rules for how it will be enforced.

The NFLPA has been a significant opponent of the rule, and defensive players around the league are starting to react.

NFL defenders will now have to run through the tackle or aim for an even lower target when approaching an offensive player in the open field.

With the move now official, here’s the reaction from players and media.

49ers LB Dre Greenlaw eyeing Week 1 return after Achilles tear

It looks like Dre Greenlaw will be able to return at some point this season, with the LB hoping for Week 1. John Lynch is eyeing something later than that.

49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw suffered an Achilles tear in the Super Bowl that put question marks around his availability for the 2024 season. Now the LB is eyeing a Week 1 return according to general manager John Lynch. Lynch is less optimistic about the LB’s quick return.

While Greenlaw is hopeful to be back in the lineup for the 49ers in early September, Lynch is leaning more toward Greenlaw starting the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.

If Greenlaw does start the regular season on the PUP list he won’t be able to practice, but he’d be eligible to return after four weeks. The PUP three-week practice window works the same as the IR practice window. He’d have 21 days from the time the window is opened to ramp up and get in football shape before the team would be required to activate him or shut him down for the year.

Even if Greenlaw returns by Week 5 or 6 it would be a huge boost for the 49ers’ defense. They added LB De’Vondre Campbell this offseason to likely fill in for Greenlaw. Whether Greenlaw takes back his starting Will LB spot or jumps in as an overqualified Sam LB will be determined down the line, but the fact he’d be ready to play at all is surely welcome news for Greenlaw and the 49ers following the timing of such a devastating injury.

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2 key 49ers undergo offseason surgery, expected back by camp

2 49ers All-Pros had offseason surgery, but both are expected back by training camp:

Two 49ers All-Pros had offseason surgery according to general manager John Lynch. Cornerback Charvarius Ward and tight end George Kittle both underwent core muscle surgery this offseason, with both expected back for the start of training camp per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco.

Ward had posted about his surgery on social media, but there was no confirmation on exactly what the surgery was. Given the location of the procedure the assumption was that he’d had a core muscle operation. Lynch on Monday confirmed that.

Kittle’s surgery wasn’t as public. It’s not a surprise the 49ers’ star tight end was banged up at the end of the year given his playing style.

It’s unclear at what point either player needed the procedure, but the good news for San Francisco is that both should be back by camp. Missing offseason time is never great, but there shouldn’t be much concern that either Ward or Kittle will be ready to play once they’re cleared and training camp starts.

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Zac Taylor comments on Joe Burrow’s injury comeback timeline

Another injury update on Joe Burrow.

The latest update on Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow sounds quite a bit like the last one.

And that’s a good thing.

Speaking with reporters at the NFL’s annual meetings this week, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor gave a similar, positive update on Burrow’s recovery from the season-ending wrist injury.

“It’s positive,” Taylor said, according to ESPN’s Brady Henderson (h/t Ben Baby). “It’s right on schedule, and so we’re encouraged with everything we thought it was going to be and where he’s going to fit into our offseason.”

That’s in line with everything members of the organization and Burrow himself have said publicly over the last few months.

Burrow had recently suggested that his target to get back throwing is mid-May, which would mean right around the team’s organized activities.

Interestingly, Burrow also revealed that he’s considering changes to his offseason working training regiment in response to recent injuries.

Barring something unexpected, the next major Burrow update should be around the time of the draft when coaches and team personnel get in front of microphones again. Then, May, Burrow’s expected date to ramp up.

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