The injury news keeps piling up for the Baltimore Ravens, and the latest update hits another key spot on the roster.
Durham Smythe suffered a torn Achilles on Sunday and is out for the season, according to NFL insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network on X, formerly Twitter. The MRI confirmed the injury, leaving no doubt about what the team feared after the initial diagnosis.
“#Ravens TE Durham Smythe suffered a torn Achilles on Sunday and he’s out for the season, the MRI confirmed. Unfortunately, exactly what it appeared Sunday,” reported NFL insider Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network on X, formerly Twitter.
Smythe had been seeing a bigger role this year after the departure of Isaiah Likely to the New York Giants, but that opportunity has now been cut short after only a few weeks.
His loss lands at an especially rough moment for Baltimore, which is also dealing with the possibility that Lamar Jackson could miss multiple weeks after the injury he suffered against the Tennessee Titans. The Ravens are preparing for their road matchup with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday evening, and Tyler Huntley is likely to start in Jackson’s place.
Atlanta comes in looking far more dangerous than it did earlier in the season, with two straight blowout wins after a shaky start. Baltimore, meanwhile, is trying to keep things together through a stretch that already included letting a game slip away against the New Orleans Saints.
The Ravens and Falcons are scheduled to kick off Sunday at 8:20 pm ET in Atlanta.
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Jurgens does give the Ravens a possible answer once he is cleared, but his status also keeps the situation from being fully solved. He is in the NFLs concussion protocol after a severe head injury, and he cannot practice or play until independent neurological doctors give him the green light, leaving Baltimore with an immediate fix that still comes with a very real wait attached. [Read more 🡒]
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Burke ultimately listened to the pull of football, a choice helped along by the reality of limited lacrosse scholarships and his growing prospects on the other side of the ball. It is a reminder of how narrow the margins can be for multi-sport talents, and how a different college decision might have sent Burke somewhere else entirely. Instead, the pass rusher made his way to Baltimore after going undrafted, giving the Ravens a player whose athletic path could easily have unfolded in a completely different Maryland uniform. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens May Have Found A Pass Rush Option They Can't Ignore
Ethan Burke got his first meaningful taste of defensive work in Week 4 against the Titans, and the undrafted rookie made sure it stood out. With Trey Hendrickson sidelined, Burke stepped into the rotation for the first 16 snaps of his career on defense and finished with his first sack, the Ravens only one in the game.
For a Baltimore outside linebacker group that is already battling for snaps, that kind of production is hard to ignore. The Ravens have been searching for more consistent pressure off the edge, and Burkes debut gave them something they have not had enough of lately - a fresh option who turned limited opportunity into a real impact play. [Read more 🡒]