The Baltimore Ravens were dealt a sizable blow to their defense on Friday when cornerback Jimmy Smith was carted off the field with a potentially serious leg injury.
Smith has been an important part of the Ravens’ secondary for a decade now, and even though he’s on the wrong side of 30, he remains a key piece of the defense.
ESPN’s Jamison Hensley is reporting that Smith suffered a low-ankle sprain. Smith could still miss some time, but the injury, fortunately, isn’t as bad as many originally feared.
But even if Smith is out longer than expected, the Ravens do have the cornerback depth to handle such an absence.
The Ravens have the cornerback depth to survive Jimmy Smith’s injury.
Smith has missed considerable time with injuries over the course of his career. He hasn’t played in more than 12 games in a season since 2015 and he’s played a full 16-game campaign just twice in 10 years.
The Ravens have been here before. And while his absence would create a hole in the defense, Baltimore is prepared for this type of injury.
No team in the NFL has a better cornerback room than the Ravens. That goes for both the star-studded starting duo of Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters as well as the incredible depth behind them.
The Ravens have the cornerback depth to survive Smith’s injury. Although his absence would certainly be felt.
The coaching staff is high on Anthony Averett and he could fill Smith’s role as the team’s de facto No. 4 cornerback behind Humphrey, Peters, and Tavon Young.
Averett has started seven games over the last two years and played 33 percent of defensive snaps a year ago despite missing six weeks.
Smith’s injury could also open up a roster spot for a training camp standout such as Khalil Dorsey or Chris Westry. That is, of course, if he’s forced to miss the start of the season.
Westry would make the most sense as his size and length are comparable to that of the lanky Jimmy Smith. He could provide further depth for the Ravens at outside cornerback.
Losing Jimmy Smith for any lengthy period of time would suck. There’s no way around that. But the Ravens at least have the cornerback depth to handle a major injury at the position.
If need be, the Ravens could survive a serious Jimmy Smith injury.