During last year’s training camp, Ravens cornerback Domonique Foxworth suffered a torn ACL. As he returns to football, he’s concerned about the status of the joint.
“It just doesn’t feel great,” Foxworth said after Monday’s practice, according to Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun. “It’s frustrating. I don’t know. I’m not very happy about it, but I’ll just keep working, I guess. It hurts, and I don’t feel as quick or as fast as I once was. Everyone says it’s part of the process, but I can’t go out there and let down the team. So I’m just pushing and trying to get it where it needs to be as soon as possible.”
The Ravens recently lost Josh Wilson and Fabian Washington to free agency. Chris Carr re-signed, but he won’t be able to practice until the new League Year begins. Foxworth is expected to start Week One, along with Lardarius Webb. Rookie Jimmy Smith, who tweaked a groin Monday, could be in line to secure the nickel position.
But first Foxworth has to be at 100 percent, or close to it.
“The coaches and trainers try to roll me back and roll back my reps, and I’m trying to push them forward,” Foxworth said. “I think they’re scared I’m going to reinjure it, and I’m scared it’s not going to be strong enough. So I just want to push and push and push, and they want to make sure that I don’t kill myself. It’s August, and Jimmy didn’t tear anything. So he’ll be fine. And Chris will be practicing next week. I don’t think anybody’s in a panic just yet.”
Foxworth was instrumental in the labor negotiations that resulted in a new CBA, giving plenty of time and attention to the process, something for which he deserves enormous credit. Hopefully for Foxworth, those personal sacrifices didn’t include sacrificing the ability to properly and fully rehab the knee.