Ravens lose a key weapon in Hayden Hurst

The Baltimore Ravens desperately need rookie tight end Hayden Hurst to contribute if the offense is finally going to get off the ground.

If the Baltimore Ravens can get anything out of their offense, they could be a dark horse to make a move in the AFC. Unfortunately, things aren’t off to the most promising of starts.

On Friday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reported that rookie tight end Hayden Hurst will miss 3-4 weeks after breaking his foot, sustaining a stress fracture. While the season is still two weeks away, it’s likely that Hurst will miss contests against the Buffalo Bills and Cincinnati Bengals, the latter coming on a Thursday night.

Hurst was a polarizing pick with the 25th-overall selection in the 2018 NFL Draft. The former South Carolina star is already 25 years old, making him the oldest of any player taken in the three-day affair. Already hurt, the pick isn’t going to get any rave reviews at this juncture.

With Hurst on the mend, the Ravens have to hope Joe Flacco can break out of his malaise and make some plays utilizing Michael Crabtree and John Brown. Both were brought into the fold this offseason with an eye on revamping the attack. Alex Collins will also be relied heavily upon after showing power and burst in the second half of last season.

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Baltimore is the most likely candidate to supplant the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North, even with Hurst injured and cornerback Jimmy Smith suspended the first four games of the season for personal conduct. Still, things haven’t started well for the team in Charm City.