Well, folks, it’s hard to believe, but we’ve just about reached the halfway point of the NFL season. It doesn’t feel like it was that long ago that I was still buzzing on post-Draft hype for the season ahead. Of course, a slew of preseason injuries killed that buzz in a hurry, and excitement was soon replaced by dread, as player after player was designated for IR. Predictions of gloom and doom began to swirl. I began to wonder how the team was going to survive the season, let alone compete for anything meaningful.
Yet here we are. Post BYE at 5-2, atop the AFC North.
I’m definitely not complaining, but… how did this happen? Sure, Lamar Jackson has been a cheat code for a few games this season, and we’ve seen impressive performances from our defense at times, but look at the injury list for the Ravens right now (you can see the full NFL list at this link: https://www.espn.com/nfl/injuries ):
THAT’S NOT EVEN THE WHOLE LIST. The damn thing reads like an encyclopedia. With as injury-ravaged as we are, how in the world as we still competitive going into the second half of the year?
Because the football gods are fickle. And we are not the only victims of their wrath.
In football, injuries are an inevitability. Whether you’re the best team or the worst, the injury bug will bite you. The question is where, and how badly. Let’s talk about where we are versus some other teams that had playoff aspirations to begin the ‘21-’22 campaign.
Ravens
Don’t get me wrong, things could definitely be better. Beginning the season down basically the entire running back room and then losing Marcus Peters in quick succession was a rough start. Ronnie Stanley and L.J. Fort are sorely missed. Daelin Hayes and Ben Cleveland would be huge help right now. To top it all off, the linebackers may be dealing with an absence after a scary off-field incident:
Malik Harrison sustained a non-life-threatening injury after getting hit by a stray bullet on his left calf. pic.twitter.com/pHlLtkJkGt
— Ravens Nation (@RavensNationCP) November 1, 2021
Here’s hoping Malik is doing well and recovering swiftly, as the most recent news had him projected to fly home in the coming days. Elsewhere, though, reinforcements may finally begin to arrive. It’s been talked about a few times by my RSR colleagues but bears mentioning again: Derek Wolfe is due back soon.
We have designated DE Derek Wolfe for return, allowing him to practice Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/vRXxBXhcHp
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 26, 2021
Personnel movement also seems to be pointing at another return:
The Ravens announce they've moved TE Eric Tomlinson to their practice squad. He was released from the 53-man roster, then re-signed.
Nick Boyle's return looms.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) November 1, 2021
The good news is that the outlook of injuries to Sammy Watkins and Latavius Murray appears short-term, so the major offensive vulnerability has been O-line protection. Again, not ideal, but the argument I would make is this: we may have a heap of injuries, but teams around the league that started the season with similar optimism may have been hit harder based on which players have been hurt. Teams like…
Seattle
Key injuries: Russell Wilson, Chris Carson
No more pin. Time to Win. pic.twitter.com/ZCESXDkdpI
— Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) November 1, 2021
When you’re down a starting QB for any amount of time, it’ll hamper your team’s productivity. When that QB is Russell Wilson, you’re really in dire straits. While Russ’ post shows that he’s getting the pin taken out of his surgically-repaired finger, his absence dug the Seahawks in quite a hole, as they now hold a 3-4 record in a division featuring two 7-1 teams. Even if they can put it together down the stretch, that injury likely cost them any chance to win the NFC West.
Washington
Key injuries: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Curtis Samuel, Jon Bostic, Logan Thomas, Brandon Scherff, Chase Roullier
Rivera says another MRI coming for Ryan Fitzpatrick next week. No news until then.
— JP Finlay (@JPFinlayNBCS) November 1, 2021
Oof. If you’re like me and you’re in the catchment area for a lot of DC sports news, you remember how high the optimism was for this team, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, before the season started. Injuries have absolutely decimated the defending NFC East champions, and they’re now tied for last in their division at 2-6. We know all about a patchwork O-line, but paired with a back-up QB, it’s been disastrous.
Carolina
Key injuries: Christian McCaffrey, Jaycee Horn, Pat Elflein
INJURY UPDATE: @Panthers HC Matt Rhule still doesn’t provide an exact return for RB Christian McCaffrey (hamstring) as of this moment. “If not this week, then hopefully next week” pic.twitter.com/Sob4EmRohC
— The Fantasy Source 🔮🏈 (@FantasySource_) November 1, 2021
While the Panthers likely weren’t competing for that division, there was a brief and shining moment after the acquisition of C.J. Henderson and Stephon Gilmore, paired with a 3-0 start, that this team looked like a legitimate threat. Yeah, not anymore. McCaffrey is the heart and soul of that team’s offense, and the longer he’s out, the less likely it is that this team squeaks into the postseason picture. At 4-4, they trail the Saints and Buccaneers in the NFC South, and the second half of their schedule features matchups at Arizona, at Buffalo, and against Tampa Bay (twice). Yikes.
San Francisco
Key injuries: George Kittle, Raheem Mostert, Javon Kinlaw
The #49ers have opened the practice window for TE George Kittle, K Robbie Gould and RB Jeff Wilson.
S Jimmie Ward could be out 1-2 weeks but still a chance he plays against the Cardinals.
RB Elijah Mitchell dealing with a rib injury and will be limited this week. pic.twitter.com/7MqNsZXjbT
— 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners_) November 1, 2021
This has been the major storyline for the Niners for a while. Injuries have hampered them from recapturing the defensive prowess that landed them an NFC title not long ago, and an earlier injury this year to Jimmy Garoppolo complicated their already-cloudy QB picture. Without their premier pass catcher in Kittle and their starting RB in Mostert, the offense seems to be shuffling deck chairs on the Titanic.
New Orleans
Key injuries: Jameis Winston, Taysom Hill, Michael Thomas
After suffering a knee injury against the #GoBucs, Jameis Winston still found time to dance on his crutches to celebrate the #Saints win. Fair to say he is in good spirits 🤣 #WhoDat
(🎥 via @NolaHatPlug) pic.twitter.com/T39e1FFxJs
— Double Take Sports (@dbltakesports) November 1, 2021
Trevor Siemian was thrust into the spotlight this past weekend for the Saints after losing Jameis Winston to an ACL injury. While they captured a win in that game, there’s no denying that the injury spells trouble for postseason aspirations. Sure, they’re only one game behind the Buccaneers for the lead in the NFC South, but they’re down to their third-string QB and still without their leading wide receiver. Teams looking up at them in the NFC standings are definitely smelling blood in the water.
As a footnote, I would be derelict in my duties if I glossed over the major news that the Titans will likely be without Derrick Henry for the remainder of the year. Similarly to Carolina, the Titans offense lives and dies by the run, and the loss of the NFL’s most productive rusher is sure to slow them down moving forward.
Last week, still feeling the sting of a loss, I ended my Out to Lunch piece with the sentiment that things could be worse. I’ll reiterate that sentiment here. The Ravens have absorbed unbelievable punishment this season on the injury front, but they seem galvanized by it. No game has seemed out of reach (well, until late in the Cincy debacle). The healthy players called to action have stepped up and played hard. The spirit of this team seems undeterred by the missing pieces, and, even in the face of all of the adversity out of the gates, I’m excited for the second half of the year.
May the end of the season bring us longer post-win articles and shorter injury reports!
