The Baltimore Ravens have seen the last of pass-rusher Terrell Suggs this season. Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported Thursday that Suggs is likely to undergo season-ending Achilles surgery Friday. This comes less than 24-hours after the team placed Suggs on injured reserve. La Canfora notes that Friday surgery is the plan "for now."
The Ravens, though, have already begun planning for an immediate future without Suggs. It was reported earlier this week that they had signed free agent pass rusher Jason Babin to a one-year contract. The team made it official on Wednesday. It's been lauded as a strong signing for Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome and head coach John Harbaugh and it's easy to see why - Babin, an 11-year NFL veteran, has 62.5 sacks and two Pro Bowls in his career.
Still, expecting Babin to provide the same kind of impact that Suggs brought to the table is ill-advised. Harbaugh indicated on Monday that the team wasn't yet ready to commit to surgery for Suggs and that they were looking into other potential options and second-opinions, but it seems his contributions to the Ravens cause in 2015 are finished.
Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun indicated that the team will move Elvis Dumervil to Suggs' pass-rushing position and keep Courtney Upshaw on the strong side. Rookie fourth-rounder Za'Darius Smith will have an "increased role" behind Dumervil and special teamer Albert McClellan will get pass rush opportunities as well.
Smith, a defensive end at Kentucky, brings power and strength to the outside. He's limited in terms of flexibility and overall athleticism, but he's strong at the point of attack and will battle to set the edge and the tone.
McClellan, in his fifth season out of Marshall, has excelled on special teams for the Ravens. He's unlikely to steal a starting spot anytime soon, but seems to possess the ability to fill in in a pinch - he collected one sack in the Ravens season-opening loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.
