Baltimore Ravens center Matt Skura has been one of the more inspirational stories this offseason. After suffering a season-ending knee injury last year, Skura has worked incredibly hard to get back on the field. And as the Ravens put on pads for the first time, Skura will be able to do that. According to the league’s transaction report, Skura has passed his physical and can practice with the team.
Skura tore his ACL, MCL, PCL, and dislocated his knee cap on Nov. 25, in a Week 12 game against the Los Angeles Rams. These types of knee injuries used to be career enders but now players routinely rehabilitate and return to the field about a year later, with it taking a little longer to actually get back up to 100% physically and mentally. Though Skura has been working hard, posting videos of his impressive workouts along the way, a return to the practice field in pads would be an impressive feat. It’s one Baltimore could really use as well.
Center is one of the few positions that have a bit of a competition at training camp. When Skura wasn’t expected to be back to 100% yet, it was figured the team would let guys like Patrick Mekari and Bradley Bozeman jockey for a potential starting spot. But if Skura truly is back, Baltimore’s coaching staff might be able to turn their attention to other competitions. They’d also return 10-of-11 starters from last season’s top-scoring offense.
In the 11 games Skura started for Baltimore last season, the offense put up 2,316 rushing yards combined (210.55 yards per game on average). That alone would have topped the entire NFL last season, not even counting the extra they put on in the final few weeks to break a 41-year old record. For his part, Skura was outstanding, earning a 68.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and allowing just one sack over 11 games.
As the Ravens truly open training camp for the first time this offseason, they’re seeing puzzle pieces come into place.
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