OWINGS MILLS, Md. - The Ravens’ receiver room took a hit Wednesday, with rookie Ja’Kobi Lane landing on injured reserve after surgery on the fractured wrist he suffered in the first half of the season-opening win in Indianapolis.
Lane, a third-round pick out of USC, has to sit out at least four games before he can return. That’s a tough break for a player who spent the summer flashing in camp and the preseason, then won the No. 3 wideout job over veteran Devontez Walker and fellow rookie Elijah Sarratt.
“I think the minimum IR stay is probably what we’ll be shooting for,” head coach Jesse Minter said. “I know he’ll attack it, and he’ll be back as soon as it is.
Whatever the number is, you try to slice a week or two off of that from a player’s competitive standpoint. I know he’ll be champing at the bit to get back.”
Lane had already been involved against the Colts before leaving the game. He was targeted three times, caught one pass for 11 yards, and had a 4-yard touchdown wiped out by a holding penalty on center Jovaughn Gwyn.
Rashod Bateman, who knows the rookie-year injury grind firsthand, tried to steady Lane’s headspace after the setback.
“I told him, ‘You just never know how your career goes. That’s part of this sport,'” said Bateman, who missed the first five games of his rookie season after groin surgery in August.
“I spoke to him and gave him some words of encouragement. He’s definitely beating himself up about it, but it’s only so much he can control, and that’s what I had to teach myself.
Injuries are part of the game, and his is unfortunate, but whenever he comes back, he’ll be ready too.”
The Lane news wasn’t the only concern for Baltimore’s offense. Zay Flowers missed practice again Wednesday while working back from the left hamstring injury he aggravated late in the first half of the Ravens’ 41-23 win over Indianapolis. Minter repeated Monday’s view that Flowers is “day to day,” but Baltimore is likely to be careful with a receiver who has been managing that same hamstring since late August.
With Flowers in jeopardy for Sunday’s home opener against New Orleans and Lane on IR, the Ravens moved veteran receiver Chris Moore onto the 53-man roster.
There was also some uncertainty around the defense. Nnamdi Madubuike was limited as he continues to work back from a neck issue, and Minter said the Ravens will keep evaluating him through the week.
“I’d say he’s in that day-to-day category as well,” Minter said. “We’ll see how it looks at the end of the week.”
Baltimore also held out several other veterans on Wednesday, including Trey Hendrickson, Ronnie Stanley, John Simpson and Calais Campbell, who was listed as resting. T.J.
Tampa, expected to miss time with the knee injury he suffered in Week 1, also did not practice. The team responded by re-signing veteran defensive back Amani Oruwariye to the practice squad.
At kicker, the Ravens may not be done sorting things out. Minter left the door open on Jake Moody returning at some point after his Tuesday release, though Baltimore’s confidence in Tyler Loop was clear after Loop drilled field goals from 57 and 45 yards in Indianapolis.
“You never really know how it’ll go, but again, a lot of confidence in Tyler,” Minter said. “I thought he went out there and did a really good job.
We know Jake now. We have a pretty good feel for how he’s doing, so we’ll kind of just see how it shakes out.”
The Saints, meanwhile, had a few notable names trending the other way. Cam Jordan practiced on a limited basis as New Orleans hopes to get the eight-time Pro Bowl defensive end back after a hamstring injury in training camp. Alvin Kamara was a full participant and is expected to make his season debut Sunday.
Wednesday’s full Ravens injury report listed Calais Campbell, Zay Flowers, Trey Hendrickson, John Simpson, Ronnie Stanley and T.J. Tampa as nonparticipants.
Teddye Buchanan and Keondre Jackson were limited, along with Madubuike. Jaylinn Hawkins and Devontez Walker were full participants.
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