Baltimore Ravens' rookie to forfeit 2023 season while rehabbing

The Baltimore Ravens decided to bet on long-term upside instead of on instant impact when they drafted offensive guard Andrew Vorhees last April with a seventh-round pick at the end of the 2023 NFL draft.

That pick, made so late in the first-year draft, was possible only because the USC standout tore his ACL in the March 5 combine drills. Before suffering that injury, Vorhees was considered a borderline first-round pick and most definitely not someone to drop below the end of the third round.

Now, a few months after making their selection and facing a long rehabbing period from surgery to repair his knee, the Ravens have announced that Vorhees will forfeit the 2023 season by placing the on the active/non-football injury list.

The move was first reported by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston late Wednesday, July 19.

This decision, as stated above, comes as the result of Vorhees continuing his rehabilitation from the ACL tear and subsequent surgery, who he underwent on March 29.

According to Pro Football Talk, Dr. Neal ElAttrache (Vorhees' surgeon) sent a letter to all NFL franchises before the draft knowing what was coming and saying he "anticipates Vorhees being cleared to play without restrictions following rehab."

That remark didn't help Vorhees case, who only got drafted by the Ravens a few picks before the draft was over. Even then, he still landed on a franchise via draft instead as a UDFA, something most prospects declaring for the yearly event can't say even when entering it fully healthy.

Vorhees spent six seasons at USC landing there in 2017 and staying until last year (he redshirted in 2019). Vorhees truly exploded right before the draft after a 2022 season in which he was named into the First-team All-American, First-team All-Pac-12, and also earned the Morris Trophy as the best offensive lineman in his conference.

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