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OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh has blamed his team’s last season-ending injuries on bad luck.
In Thursday’s practice, running back Gus Edwards and cornerback Marcus Peters tore their ACLs without making contact with their teammates, continuing Baltimore’s terrible injury run. Both were placed on the injured list.
Edwards, who had just replaced JK Dobbins as the starting running back, was injured with a left-to-right cut and landed badly on his ankle.
“The weight ended up falling on his knee,” Harbaugh said ahead of Friday’s practice. “It was kind of a deal by accident.”
Peters, a three-time Pro Bowl cornerback, was injured as he changed direction.
“He was sort of pivoting on a basic turn that he does dozens of times in every practice,” Harbaugh said.
Harbaugh dismissed the idea that the playing surface of the Ravens’ facility was serving as a postman. The Ravens suffered three injuries at the end of the season – to running back Justice Hill (Achilles) as well as Edwards and Peters – at the facility in seven days.
“Grass? I don’t think so,” Harbaugh said. “I do not believe that.”
After both Edwards and Peters were injured, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley described the atmosphere as “depressing”. The players took the rest of the day to think it over.
Stanley said on Friday the team had regained a newfound energy after the Ravens board meeting and spoke of playing “in memory” of injured players.
“I think you cry for a day, and we’re fighting today,” Harbaugh said. “We have a very good team, a lot of great players. We can move forward. The train is moving fast.”
The Ravens are looking to overcome a series of injuries. In a 19-day streak, Baltimore lost five players, including three running backs (Edwards, Hill, Dobbins), to late-season injuries.
Stanley said he hopes teams are now underestimating the Ravens, who have reached the playoffs three seasons in a row.
“Guys can think whatever they want,” Stanley said. “The Ravens are going to be the Ravens. We’re going to step up.”
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