NFL Rumors: Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon out for season
By Chase Carle
After having surgery to repair a torn meniscus, Ravens running back Kenneth Dixon will miss the entire NFL season.
The injury bug has once against struck the Baltimore Ravens as they lose another player for the season. They lost standout second-year cornerback Tavon Young to a torn ACL at OTA’s and now Kenneth Dixon, a potential stud at running back, is out as well.
NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport tweeted earlier today that Dixon would undergo knee surgery for a meniscus tear.
#Ravens RB Kenneth Dixon suffered a tear in his meniscus, source said. He'll have surgery & hope is it's just a trim. Will know more post.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2017
The extent of the damage was unknown at the time. However, there were estimates of a six to eight week recovery time. Dixon would already miss the first four games of the season due to a suspension, so those estimates wouldn’t see him miss much more time.
After surgery, it turns out the damage was worse than anticipated. Rapoport updated that Dixon will actually be out four to five months, not weeks.
Source: #Ravens RB Kenneth Dixon will be out for the season. He had his medial meniscus repaired today - not trimmed. Out 4-5 months. Brutal
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 25, 2017
The Ravens added veteran Danny Woodhead in free agency so this loss doesn’t hurt quite as bad as it could have. They also quickly looked into getting more depth at the position even before the extent of Dixon’s injury was clear. They brought in journeyman running back Bobby Rainey, making this his second stint with the team.
Per sources, the Ravens are planning to sign RB Bobby Rainey who was with them earlier in his career. They wanted more RB depth.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) July 25, 2017
Rainey may just be a camp body or he may be added to the backfield to compete with Buck Allen for a roster spot. Terrance West should be the starter, while Woodhead is sure to play a prominent role.
Next: Top 20 NFL breakout candidates for 2017
The team expected Dixon to contribute following his suspension after showing flashes last year. After a second preseason injury, on top of the suspension, Dixon may find himself on the roster bubble instead.