One of the players in line for more playing time during a potential Ray Rice suspension had his own legal matter continued until July 31 on Monday.
Rookie running back Lorenzo Taliaferro was arrested on May 24 in Williamsburg, Virginia after an incident with a cab driver that led to misdemeanor charges of destruction of property and public drunkenness. The case was scheduled to be heard this Thursday, but Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun reports that a continuance was granted at Taliaferro’s request.
The July 31 date falls during Ravens training camp, but Taliaferro “doesn’t necessarily” have to appear in court and the case could be settled without Taliaferro missing any time this summer. Rice and offensive lineman Jah Reid were both accepted into pre-trial diversion programs after their offseason arrests in a busier off-field summer than the Ravens would have liked.
Assuming Rice’s expected suspension for some early part of the season is handed down, the fourth-round pick will be competing with Bernard Pierce and Justin Forsett for playing time in the Ravens backfield.