Ryan McBean's season is over before it began.
The Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle had surgery this week to repair the broken ankle he suffered in the team's preseason opening win to the Atlanta Falcons, the team's official site reported.
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He isn't expected to return this season and it doesn't sound pretty.
"Well, when my foot was facing the direction to where it wasn't supposed to be facing, then I figured, 'Yeah, OK. Something is wrong,' " McBean told WNST-AM, via BaltimoreRavens.com.
The (outrageously busy) Dr. Robert Anderson inserted metal hardware in McBean's ankle to kick off the projected four-to-six-month healing process.
McBean, who played last season with the Denver Broncos, already faced a three-game suspension for violating the league's performance-enhancing drug policy.
The one-year, $1.214 million contract he signed with the Ravens isn't guaranteed, so it's unclear how he fits into the team's plans. McBean said coaches told him to "heal and get right and just be ready for next year," but that doesn't imply a commitment.
Entering his fifth season, McBean was viewed as the primary backup to Haloti Ngata. It's not a soul-crushing loss to Baltimore's defense, but it chips away at front-seven depth and puts heat on free-agent addition Bryan Hall to step up. This is one NFL defense that can take a few hits and still find a way to beat teams.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
