Such is the damage of the Ravens 1-6 start that certain things can get lost in the rubble.
But one thing they didn’t expect losing was Terrell Suggs, even though he tore his Achilles tendon in the opener against the Broncos and is out for the rest of the year.
According to Mike Preston of the Baltimore Sun, no one from the organization has heard from Suggs in weeks, though General Manager Ozzie Newsome said he’s not worried about his star pass-rusher.
“If I saw Siz, I would tell him to come and see me every once and while so we can talk,” Newsome said, referring to Suggs by his T-Sizzle nickname. “With the surgery, it was going to take to three weeks before they start ramping up the rehab even a little bit.
“If there were any problems with him rehabbing or him not being where he was supposed to be, then I am sure our medical staff would let us know. But Siz has been down this road before, he knows what it takes to come back. I’m sure he’ll be ready to go next season.”
While he could just be rehabbing on his own, there are some who apparently would prefer he be around, if only for the emotional lift he brings.
But the fact he’s 33, the fact they traded away his close friend Haloti Ngata and the fact he’s now coming off his second Achilles tear does combine to create some concern. At the same time, other former Ravens have gone missing after season-ending injuries, lessening the concern.
But according to Preston, the coaching staff and front office haven’t heard from Suggs since shortly after the injury, one text but no phone calls.
“All of the rah-rah, cheerleading stuff looks good in the movies, but some of the best competitors I’ve been around don’t stay around after suffering season-ending injuries,” Newsome said. “This is real here, and if they aren’t out there bleeding with you, sweating with you and fighting, then it hurts. They are competitors.”
“I know what he is going through and you have to be careful with this at this time of his career. I’ve been through that myself. I can relate to that, I understand. Ray Lewis was like that, and there is a very fine line for a player and us to approach.”
Suggs has apparently stayed on the other side of the line, and didn’t even show up at the Arizona game Monday night (where he has an offseason home). But Newsome said that had to do with child visitation, and that Suggs’ father has been sick.