Baltimore Ravens director of player personnel Eric DeCosta said Wednesday night that there are "still moves left to be made" by the team this offseason. He didn't expect to have to replace the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.
Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reported Thursday, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, that Terrell Suggstore his Achilles' tendon during offseason workouts in Arizona. The Ravens haven't confirmed the news.
“We are in contact with Terrell,” the team said in a statement. "He will see a specialist early next week, and we’ll know more at that time."
The Ravens already had questions regarding their pass rush outside of Suggs. They drafted Courtney Upshaw in the second round last Friday, but it's uncertain who was going to start opposite Suggs. Fourth-year pro Paul Kruger has been good, not great, in the NFL. Jameel McClain, Pernell McPhee and Sergio Kindle all will be asked to step up in various roles. Kindle missed his entire rookie season in 2010 after suffering a serious head injury.
"This is his year," DeCosta said Wednesday night via The Baltimore Sun. "He has to show us that he can do it this year."
DeCosta had no idea how prescient those words would be, although it's not like the cupboard is bare. The Ravens were third in the league in sacks this past season. They have finished in the top three in defensive points allowed four years running, and they finished in the top 10 in yards allowed every year since 2003.
Haloti Ngata remains a force on the defensive line. Terrance Cody is turning into a great run stopper. Ray Lewis is coming off a rejuvenated season, and Ed Reed is still, well, Ed Reed.
Still, Suggs was the most valuable piece of the bunch. He was the pass rusher whom defenses had to account for the most. Pass-rush help like Andre Carter is out there on the free-agent market, but the Ravens mostly will have to rely on their young guys to make up for Suggs' loss.
The Ravens' path to the Super Bowl just got a lot tougher.