Ravens ‘confident’ that J.K. Dobbins will return to full strength
By Kristen Wong
If all goes well in 2022, the Baltimore Ravens should have a solid running back room marked by the triumphant return of J.K. Dobbins.
Just one year removed from his season-ending injury, Dobbins has been following the long road to recovery and should be ready for the start of the 2022 season.
Losing both Dobbins and Gus Edwards dealt major blows to Baltimore’s rushing attack which posted 2,479 rushing yards on the year.
That amount still puts the Ravens in the top-three rushing teams in the league, but compare that to 2020, when Baltimore carried the ball roughly the same number of times and recorded about 600 more yards.
As a run-heavy team, the Ravens have been patiently awaiting Dobbins’ return, and many in camp believe the star running back can achieve his rookie levels of production.
Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said he's confident RB J.K. Dobbins will "really come back and flourish."
— Jamison Hensley (@jamisonhensley) March 2, 2022
DeCosta said he expects Dobbins, who tore his ACL in the preseason, will return to the "type of player he was two years ago."
The Ravens have high expectations for J.K. Dobbins in 2022
In Year 1, J.K. Dobbins posted 805 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns and added an additional 18 catches for 120 receiving yards, which set him on track to potentially becoming a viable dual-threat back.
His 6.0 yards per carry topped the league and is comparable to that of Alvin Kamara’s rookie season in which Kamara recorded 6.1 yards per carry.
Having Dobbins back will lift pressure off Lamar Jackson to consistently lead the rushing offense and could allow Jackson to focus on his passing game instead, as Baltimore’s passing attack still needs some tweaks in 2022.
Dobbins apparently lived very close by to general manager Eric DeCosta and during Dobbins’ rehab, the two would see each other regularly. Dobbins would reportedly go to DeCosta’s house for cookies and would also receive care packages.
DeCosta isn’t just excited for Dobbins’ return, but for that of the other Ravens backs as well. He reflected on the general state of the running back room at the NFL Scouting Combine:
"“Losing J.K. and then Gus Edwards and then Justice Hill, all three of our guys, three of our mainstay players. Losing those guys in the span of two weeks was very, very challenging as an organization. Saying that, we are very confident that those guys will all come back this year and play winning football for us.”"
Winning football should indeed be the goal. An even loftier aspiration? The Super Bowl.
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With Dobbins and Edwards back in 2022, the Ravens’ offense could see its most fruitful season yet.