The Baltimore Ravens expect to see Joe Flacco return to the field this preseason, and head coach John Harbaugh is encouraged by the health reports he’s getting.
Speaking to reporters Wednesday, Harbaugh couldn’t say exactly when Flacco will return. However, he did say, “All indications from Joe and our trainer Mark Smith have been very positive,” per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley.
Back injuries are very tricky. Baltimore must be careful not to bring Flacco back too soon, which could certainly be tempting considering the current quarterback situation. Ryan Mallett has been atrocious, and the Ravens have had little luck bringing in camp arms (more on that here).
The much-reported potential signing of Colin Kaepernick almost certainly will not happen. On Wednesday, ESPN’s Dianna Russini shared information that owner Steve Bisciotti is blocking the move, which is certainly his right.
With all that said, Baltimore needs Flacco to be healthy for the regular season. He’s a veteran who knows the system Marty Mornhinweg runs well enough to step into the lineup without much practice and still be better than his backups. So there’s no reason to panic, especially in light of the news he’s recovering nicely.