In the wake of the Ravens' dominant 28-3 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 4, Head Coach John Harbaugh addressed the media on his usual Monday press conference, and let me tell you he didn't bring bright news with him.
While Harbaugh let us all wait for an update on Morgan Moses's injury and MRI results (shoulder), he cast a darker-than-dark shadow over the future availability of outside linebacker David Ojabo at some--any--point throughout the remainder of the season.
Coach Harbaugh on David Ojabo: pic.twitter.com/Jgp2iYcosP
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 2, 2023
David Ojabo was placed on Injured Reserve on Friday listed with an ankle/knee injury following the Week 3 loss against the Colts. Ojabo won't be eligible to play until Week 8 at the earliest... although that might actually never happen judging by Harbaugh's words.
"He's still being evaluated. There are some decisions that have to be made, that he has to make, in terms of how he wants to approach the knee injury issues that he has." Harbaugh said.
In other words, Harbaugh made it sound like the franchise has asked the second-year edge rusher about whether or not he wants to be shut down for the year, probably undergo surgery, and call it a season. Ugh.
Ojabo is coming off a rookie season that he nearly missed entirely, barely appearing in two regular-season games and defending two snaps during the postseason.
The defensive end was still taking baby steps after recovering from an Achilles tear suffered at Michigan's Pro Day prior to the draft, leading to his falling to the second round where Baltimore snatched him.
That looked like a steal then, but the injury concerns were obvious a year ago and they are even bigger following his placement on IR and the latest news about his potential deactivation for the year.
Harbaugh said that Ojabo's decision is "still private," the same as the player's "concerns" about the path he chooses to follow. "We'll just say is up in the air now."
In order to patch Ojabo's absence (and all others) for Week 4 and going forward, the Ravens were forced to sign OLB Kyle Van Noy off the street in a move that has is already paying off judging by his presence on the field last Sunday, just a few days after signing with the Flock.