Baltimore Ravens tight end Darren Waller has been suspended for at least one year.
The Baltimore Ravens cannot seem to catch a break at tight end. All the injuries last season continued into this offseason when Dennis Pitta suffered his third hip dislocation. Now things are even worse. Tight end Darren Waller has been suspended at least one year for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
Ravens beat reporter Jeff Zrebiec broke the news on Twitter:
Ravens TE Darren Waller has been suspended for at least one year for violating leagues substance abuse policy.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) June 30, 2017
This isn’t the first suspension for Waller. He missed the first four games of last season with the same issue. One more issue and he could be indefinitely suspended from the league.
According to Zrebiec, the issue has stemmed back to his college career.
It's Waller's second violation in as many years. Was suspended in college as well cause of drug use.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) June 30, 2017
Weak position gets weaker
With Waller gone, Nick Boyle is really the only healthy tight end on the roster right now. Crockett Gillmore should be healthy for the start of the season but he’s dealt with a number of injuries. Vince Mayle has been moved from wide receiver to tight end but we aren’t sure what that holds.
The Ravens will now be relying on production from a number of tight ends that missed last season due to injury. Ben Watson and Maxx Williams are both coming off major surgeries. This is not the situation you want to be in a month out from training camp.
Once again the tight end position proves to be the weak spot for the Ravens offense. It’s been a string of bad luck over the years.
So what now?
This isn’t like losing a practice player, Waller was expected to be a big contributor at tight end this season. He has a ton of raw talent and this was the year to put it all together.
Now could be the time for the Ravens to look in free agency or for a trade. Gary Barnidge an available free agent and would be a good fit with this offense. He’s a huge at 6’6″ and would be a immediate red-zone target for Joe Flacco.
Next: Baltimore Ravens: Prediction of the 53-man roster
The question will obviously be the cap space. With about $6 million left, the Ravens also need to address the offensive line. It will be interesting to see how John Harbaugh and the front office handle this situation.