The injury problems of the Baltimore Ravens have been well documented this season. Future Hall of Famer Ray Lewis suffered a torn triceps. The team’s best cornerback, Lardarius Webb, has been lost with a torn ACL. Both will be out for the remainder of the season. Defensive lineman Haloti Ngata is playing through an MCL sprain. Other names who have appeared on the injury report recently are offensive lineman Bryant McKinnie and last year’s first round draft choice Jimmy Smith.
Eight-time Pro Bowl player Ed Reed, however, has not appeared on Baltimore’s injury report despite stating on local station 105.7 The Fan earlier this month that he’s been playing with a torn labrum in his shoulder. The failure to list the former Defensive Player of the Year has resulted in action by the NFL.
The injury report states: “All players with significant or noteworthy injuries must be listed on the report, even if the player takes all the reps in practice, and even if the team is certain that he will play in the upcoming game. This is especially true of key players and those players whose injuries have been covered extensively by the media.”
Reed discussing the injury on a radio show probably wasn’t the best idea. On the other hand, according to head coach John Harbaugh, he hasn’t missed any practice time. So did the Ravens do anything wrong? The NFL says they did and I guess that’s all that really matters. The amount of the fine is inconsequential but it will be interesting to see if more names appear on the Baltimore Ravens injury report in the coming weeks. Not that they can afford many more, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
