The Baltimore Ravens announced this morning that linebacker Jameel McClain will start the season on the reserve-physically unable to perform list (or PUP for short) and Kapron Lewis-Moore to reserve-non-football injured list.
Both players are now off the active roster, getting the team down to the required 75-man roster in time for today’s 4 P.M. deadline.
The move allows McClain to fully heal from his spinal cord contusion injury until he has a clean bill of health according to head coach John Harbaugh.
With the stout play of Josh Bynes this pre-season, the Ravens can afford to let McClain be fully healthy before the weak-side linebacker is cleared.
According to The Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson, McClain remains upbeat about his prognosis and has no restrictions in his exercise regimen. McClain’s PUP designation means he’ll begin the 2013 season missing at least the first six games before he would be able to begin practicing. So far, he has not been able to participate in anything football-related. The indicator will be the MRI, but no time table has been announced.
In Lewis-Moore’s case, the Ravens drafted the 6th rounder knowing he was coming off surgery for a torn ACL suffered in the BCS Championship Game against Alabama in January.
Lewis-Moore will continue to rehab his surgically-repaired right knee and is expected to miss the entire season. The Ravens like the rookie defensive end’s size and feel he’ll be able to contribute fully in 2014 while spending time learning the Ravens defense from the film room.
Matt Lund is a contributor for BaltimoreSportsReport.com and co-host of the BSR Podcast. You can follow him on Twitter @MattCLund.
It’ s actually the play of the entire LB corp that allowed this to happen , not sure if Jameel would have broken into the starting lineup if was healthy , probably would have trouble making the squad , Ozzie did a very good job of bringing in LBs to replace what we lost,,,,,,,,,,,,,I think Ellerbe would have had a tough time breaking into the starting group as well , it may turn out to be a true strength of the team,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,