Ravens outside linebacker Terrell Suggs is entering his 11th season, and is coming off a torn Achilles and a biceps tear last year, and watched his mentors walk out the door this offseason.
But if he’s feeling down, it’s hard to tell.
“I’m 30, so I’m alright,” Suggs said when asked about his football mortality, via the team’s official website. “A lot of those guys are a lot older than me. I’m 30. If you ask me, I’m probably entering in my football prime right now.
“But I’m not going to think about that this year. At the end of the year, probably, it depends on how the year goes.”
Losing Ed Reed and Ray Lewis might have been an emotional blow, but the Ravens are certainly younger and possibly better on defense now, after adding Elvis Dumervil and upgrading the defensive line.
Getting Suggs back to being Suggs would certainly help make that a reality, after his barely-there 2.0 sacks last season. But he’s come to camp leaner and more serious, perhaps a reflection of his new leadership status. He pointed to others such as Haloti Ngata and Lardarius Webb, but all eyes will be on him as the elder.
“Achilles feels good. Bicep feels good. And I’m 100 percent,” Suggs said. “I’m just blessed that I am 100 percent and that I am able to go to work.”
And apparently, he’s feeling as fresh as ever.