The Baltimore Ravens are looking forward to getting back their promising young running back JK Dobbins. Dobbins missed the entire 2021 season after tearing his ACL in Baltimore's final preseason game, and has been working on making it back to the field ever since.
According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, the Ravens and their fans shouldn't get their hopes up that Dobbins will be playing come Week 1. Rapoport says that while Dobbins' recovery hasn't hit any setbacks, Baltimore doesn't want to be too aggressive and push him back on the field before he's ready. With that mindset, Rapoport believes that Dobbins may not be ready for Week 1.
From NFL Now: #Ravens RB JK Dobbins is no sure thing for Week 1. He hasn’t had any setbacks. But his knee injury was a serious one, and Baltimore has no incentive to rush him back. They protected themselves with veteran Mike Davis, regardless. pic.twitter.com/j5xi6dYabU
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 18, 2022
Rapoport's report quickly caught the attention of Ravens fans everywhere who were expecting JK Dobbins to be ready come Week 1. It also caught the attention of Dobbins himself, who wasn't happy with Rapoport's report. Dobbins claims he may not even end up on the Physically Unable to Perform list because his recovery is going that well, and called out Rapoport for his reporting on Dobbins' recovery.
Okay I’m tired of being quiet… come to me for your source @RapSheet because I might not even go on PUP because that’s how good my rehab is going and I’m damn sure going to be ready for week 1. https://t.co/gH2TqCFLM4
— Jk dobbins (@Jkdobbins22) July 18, 2022
JK Dobbins believes that he is going to be good to go by the time Week 1 rolls around, and he fires a shot at Rapoport for supposedly making up rumors regarding his return. The war of words didn't end there, as Rapoport hopped on The Pat McAfee Show shortly after Dobbins called him out on Twitter, saying that while he hopes Dobbins is ready for Week 1, he trusts his source on this one, and that he doesn't expect him to be ready for the start of the season.
"I very much trust my source on this one.. I hope JK Dobbins is ready for week 1" ~@RapSheet #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/GhDI8Pl8gy
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) July 18, 2022
The exchange between Rapoport and Dobbins is certainly interesting. Time will tell whether Dobbins will be ready for Week 1, but it appears as though his status for Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season isn't as secure as we initially thought.