Ravens rookie center Tyler Linderbaum will miss time with leg injury

The Baltimore Ravens are looking forward to seeing what Tyler Linderbaum could do in his rookie season, although that wait may be delayed a few weeks after he suffered a leg injury in practice this week.

Linderbaum went down with an apparent leg injury during Thursday’s practice, and head coach John Harbaugh later revealed that the rookie offensive lineman had been stepped on. An MRI revealed no structural damage and Harbaugh said that Linderbaum would miss 1-2 weeks.

That timetable figures to keep him sidelined for the team’s preseason opener next Thursday and could even force him to miss the second preseason game as well.

The Ravens will understandably be cautious with Linderbaum given their injury woes last season, but it’s never ideal for a rookie to miss valuable summer reps.

The Ravens should have Tyler Linderbaum back in time for Week 1

While the Ravens certainly aren’t happy that Linderbaum is being forced to miss time this summer, it’s at least encouraging that the injury isn’t expected to keep him sidelined for long.

There’s been no indication that Linderbaum won’t be able to suit up for the team’s Week 1 matchup with the New York Jets. That’s good news for a Ravens offensive line looking to build chemistry this summer.

The Ravens have three other natural centers on their roster and it’s likely that Patrick Mekari will get starter reps with Linderbaum sidelined. Others include Trystan Colon and Jimmy Murray.

Linderbaum has had somewhat of an up-and-down summer to this point. While the Ravens have been pleased with his mindset and development, it’s clear that he’s still a work in progress.

Still, the expectation is that Linderbaum will be the team’s Week 1 starting center, even with his injury. If need be, Mekari can step in and fill that role as he has in the past, but the Ravens drafted Linderbaum to be a day-one starter.

This injury is hopefully just a minor setback for Tyler Linderbaum. Expect him to start Week 1.