The Baltimore Ravens have had injuries decimate certain positional groups on their roster this year. While running back, offensive line, and cornerback have been the hardest areas hit, Baltimore has been missing a very important piece to their defense for the entire season so far in defensive lineman Derek Wolfe.
Wolfe has been dealing with hip and back issues that have prevented him from returning to the field. However, when Ravens head coach John Harbaugh was asked about how close the defensive lineman was to returning to practice, he offered a positive update.
“Very close, very close. Yes, we’ll see. This week [or] next week hopefully, and we’ll see.”
If Wolfe is able to return to practice in the next week or two, it would be a big development for a Baltimore defense that has struggled with consistency in 2021. Wolfe was one of the Ravens’ unsung heroes last season, as he was a force against the run and also generated some interior pressure. His return would take some pressure off of both Calais Campbell and Brandon Williams.
While Harbaugh didn’t provide a fully clear timetable as to when Wolfe will be back on the practice field, the fact that he is “very close” according to the head coach is a promising sign. Hopefully he’ll be able to return sooner rather than later and give Baltimore a big boost on the defensive side of the ball.