Fans of Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. were thrilled when he announced that he would play for another year after sustaining a torn Achilles last November.
Although it would appear that Smith, 37, has no exact timetable for his return.
“I don’t know when I’m coming back,” he said, per Jamison Hensley of ESPN. “I just know I have to be able to do something in training camp to be able to play for the season. That’s just the way I operate. I can’t go from doing absolutely nothing (and) sitting on my butt for all of training camp and then go out there and play.”
Per the report, Smith took a moment to update on his health status while in attendance at a charity softball game.
“I can move faster than what people think,” Smith said.
Smith reportedly jogged through the bases afterwards.
Taking his own time to ease his way back to action is the best thing for Smith’s health at this point. The Ravens particularly need him back now that second-year wide receiver Breshad Perriman faces the possibility of missing the entire 2016 season after partially tearing his left ACL.
Prior to Smith’s injury-riddled 2015 season, he defied father time and proved to be an elite play-maker. Besting his final season with the Carolina Panthers, Smith recorded 79 receptions for 1,065 yards and six touchdowns in 2014.
According to the report, Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said back in February that he thinks Smith will be ready by the start of the season.
If indeed Smith is a go this year, he will enter the 2016 season as the oldest active wide receiver in the league. Meanwhile, the Ravens will be looking to improve off what was a disastrous injury-plagued five-win 2015 campaign.