In a surprising transaction completed a few days ago, the Baltimore Ravens decided to sign veteran running back and former Super Bowl champion Melvin Gordon to bolster their backfield ahead of the 2023 season.
If only because of the many talented players that Baltimore's backfield already features, the signing raised some eyebrows about casual fans not understanding the Ravens' masterplan here.
The truth, is of course, that Baltimore's RB1 J.K. Dobbins is currently sitting practices out (Dobbins is listed on the PUP list) while supposedly "holding in" and fighting the Ravens in order to get a new, richer contract from the organization as he embarks on his final year under contract.
In an interview conceded to Kyle Goon of The Baltimore Banner, Gordon seemed to inadvertently reveal Dobbins' real situation amid all of the rumors involving the fourth-year rusher.
"I didn’t even know he’s sitting out, but J.K. is sitting out. They’re not even making a big headline out of it, unless you’re in Indy, I guess. And they got other players sitting out. I didn’t even know J.K. was sitting out until I came here.."Melvin Gordon, Baltimore Ravens
"I didn’t even know he’s sitting out, but J.K. is sitting out," Gordon said when discussing his teammate and the reasons that led him to sign with the Ravens. According to his words, Gordon signed with Baltimore thinking Dobbins was ready to go, so he must be pleased to actually realize that Dobbins is, in fact, forcing the issue and not willing to practice or play for the time being.
That should open the door for Gordon to get more reps at least for the remainder of the preseason. "They’re not even making a big headline out of it unless you’re in Indy (referring to the Jonathan Taylor vs. Colts soap opera), I guess."
As Gordon simply put it, "I didn’t even know J.K. was sitting out until I came here."
Now that the truth is out and Dobbins has been deemed a stubborn case by a fellow Raven, we'll see how he reacts to the reveal made by Gordon and whether or not he comes back to practicing with the rest of the team this or next week and ahead of the first preseason game on Aug. 12.