Breshad Perriman still injured for Ravens

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Breshad Perriman (Central Florida) poses for a photo with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number twenty-six overall pick to the Baltimore Ravens in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

The Baltimore Ravens allowed wide receiver Torrey Smith to leave for the San Francisco 49ers via free agency this offseason, knowing they would draft a receiver to replace him. General manager Ozzie Newsome settled on Breshad Perriman, a speedster out of the University of Central Florida. Unfortunately for Baltimore, its first-round pick has been a decoration on the sidelines to this point.

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Perriman injured his knee in July and originally expected to be back on the field in a few days. However, the problem has persisted, and despite an MRI coming back to show that everything is normal, the Ravens are still waiting to see some dividends from their investment. On Thursday, head coach John Harbaugh talked with a hint of frustration about the situation, per the team’s official website.

"“I’m asking too,” Harbaugh said, via the team’s website. “It’s just slower healing than [the doctors] expected. They really don’t have a timetable right now. That’s all I really have to say on that.”"

Without Perriman, the Ravens are extremely thin in the weapons department. Steve Smith Sr. is in his final NFL season, and while he remains a threat, he is no longer the dominant player of yesteryear. Beyond Smith is a bare depth chart which includes Marlon Brown and Kamar Aiken. With tight end Dennis Pitta unsure if he can play again after a second hip surgery, quarterback Joe Flacco is without much help. Running back Justin Forsett will be the focal point, after racking up an 1,000-yard campaign for the first time in his career last season.

Even if Perriman returns, he will be hard-pressed to make a difference after missing virtually all of training camp. By the time Perriman develops a report with Flacco and understands the offense, it could be a lost season.

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