The Ravens entered the season banged up and then some. Baltimore had to play their Week 1 game without a few starters including CB Marlon Humphrey and TE Mark Andrews. Then, the worst-case scenario started to unravel.
Running back J.K. Dobbins tore his Achilles and was ruled out for the 2023 season already. Offensive linemen Ronnie Stanley and Tyler Linderbaum are "week-to-week" casualties and already missed Week 2.
And then, there was starting safety Marcus Williams who tore a pectoral muscle and initially feared to miss the remainder of the season.
In a shocking press conference held on Monday following the Week 2 win at Cincinnati, Ravens' head coach John Harbaugh provided a massive injury update on all hurt players, including Williams, as covered by Ryan Mink and Clifton Brown over BaltimoreRavens.com.
Coach Harbaugh says that S Marcus Williams will not go on IR but is rehabbing to get back on the field. pic.twitter.com/1l4GfFpZ7G
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 18, 2023
"Marcus is not getting the surgery," Harbaugh started, "so he's just rehabbing right now to get himself back on the field."
Asked about the timeline for Williams' potential return to the field, Harbaugh didn't share any detail limiting his answer to saying "There is sort of a vague timeframe right now, but I just don't want to put it out there and then everybody be mad at me later."
Harbaugh also confirmed that Williams is "not going to go on Injured Reserve," adding that "it's definitely time to express that."
This might be the best news the Ravens have received on the injury front since the start of training camp as the franchise started to lose bodies left and right throughout the summer and already into the regular season.
Along with Williams' positive news, Harbaugh also revealed that both Odell Beckham and Odafe Oweh, who left Sunday's game early, have avoided long-term injuries and won't be missing games.
"I'm just going to keep close to the vest," Harbaugh said. "I can tell you this, if there's any long-term issue, we'll let you know what it is."
The Ravens will face the Indianapolis Colts at the M&T Bank Stadium next Sunday for Week 3 of the NFL season.
The Colts are facing their own injury woes as they won't be able to count on RB Jonathan Taylor with QB Anthony Richardson also expected to be out unless he clears the concussion protocol in time.