Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs may be lost for the 2012 season after tearing his Achilles while reportedly doing conditioning drills in his home state of Arizona.
According to Aaron Wilson of the Carroll County Times, Suggs has been in contact via text about the injury, telling Wilson, “I went to stop and turn and I thought I sprained it. Went to doc and said it’s a partial tear.”
There is a glimmer of hope for Ravens fans and Suggs as the reigning Defensive Player of the Year will see a specialist next week to determine the extent of the injury. A partial tear of the Achilles could allow Suggs enough time to return at some point this season.
A full tear would require surgery and Suggs would miss the entire 2012 season, a huge blow to a Ravens team looking to make another run to a Super Bowl title.
In a statement, the Ravens stressed that they have heard from Suggs, stating, “we are in contact with Terrell. He will see a specialist early next week, and we’ll know more at that time.”
The Ravens drafted Alabama linebacker Courtney Upshaw in the 2nd round of this year’s NFL Draft to beef up the pass rush and to help Suggs as teams started double-teaming him late in the season. The Ravens wanted Upshaw to learn from Suggs, but he’ll now be an even bigger factor this season.
Upshaw will likely play a contributing role on this team with the injury to Suggs as a rush specialist, opposite Paul Kruger who will be another player the organization will rely heavily on as he’ll likely play a big role with the team this year as the SAM linebacker.
Suggs, 29, has only missed three games in his nine-year career with the Baltimore Ravens, starting 125 career games with 82.5 sacks.
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