Ravens Running Back Suffers Season-Ending Injury

The Baltimore Ravens defeated the Houston Texans, 25-9, on Sunday in their season opener, but they experienced a significant loss. Ravens starting running back J.K. Dobbins suffered an Achilles injury and will be out for the rest of the season, head coach John Harbaugh confirmed after the game.

Dobbins was fighting for extra yardage toward the end zone after receiving a short pass from Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson when the injury occurred. Dobbins initially went to the sideline under his own power, but had to be helped by trainers as he went to the locker room.

Justice Hill rushed for a 2-yard touchdown on the very next play to extending Baltimore’s lead to 13-6 early in the third quarter. Dobbins scored the game’s first touchdown on a nifty 4-yard run in the first quarter. He recorded eight carries for 22 yards and two catches for 15 yards.

This is the third time in Dobbins’ four-year career that he’s had a significant injury. He suffered a season-ending ACL injury in the final preseason game in 2021. In Week 6 of 2022, he suffered another knee injury and was placed on injured reserve. He was sidelined for about two months until he was activated from injured reserve on Dec. 10.

“I’m crestfallen for him,” Harbaugh said, per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley. “We’ll put our arms around him and he will be back.”

Justice Hill and Gus Edwards will now take over the load at running back for the Ravens. With Dobbins suffering his second season-ending injury and third overall of his young career, there is a concern about his long-term future in terms of health. Two knee injuries and an Achilles injury is a tough blow for a running back.

Dobbins was selected in the second round out of Ohio State in the 2020 NFL Draft by the Ravens. He’s also a leader on Baltimore’s team. As expected, it was an emotional locker room after the game with the disappointing news on Dobbins.

“That guy is a good brother of mine. It hurts to see that type of stuff happen to somebody who is so good. Just a good person, a good athlete,” an emotional Patrick Queen said in his postgame interview. “I just ask everyone to pray for him, pray for his mental. It’s just tough. It hurts.”