The Baltimore Ravens missed the playoffs for the second time since hiring head coach John Harbaugh back in 2008, and their 5-11 record may have been one of the biggest surprises during the 2015 NFL season. Injuries were clearly a major factor for the Ravens last season, as they lost the leader of their defense, Terrell Suggs, in Week One, and went on to lose their leading wide receiver, starting running back and their franchise quarterback Joe Flacco.
The Ravens quarterback tore both his ACL and MCL last November, and Baltimore's front office knows that his health will be key to their 2016 season, as they look to bounce back in the AFC North division.
Flacco said that his knee is "getting better and better each week." There is not a specific timeline for his return, but Flacco said that he believes he will be back by training camp this summer. The Ravens franchise quarterback attended former Ravens teammate and current San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Torrey Smith's celebrity basketball game on Saturday, and he was seen with a little hop in his step, as he was able to shoot the basketball during warm-ups.
The Ravens posted their first losing season under Harbaugh in 2015, and prior to his injury, Flacco had struggled on the field throwing 14 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. His 12 interceptions were the same number of turnovers that he threw in a full 16-game season in the previous year, but with some new weapons and a healthy Steve Smith Sr. returning in 2016, the Ravens could be the team to watch out for in the AFC.
The Ravens look to have a dynamic receiving core in 2016 with their first round pick Breshad Perriman expected to make his debut and the addition of former Vikings wide receiver Mike Wallace. The Ravens have also added former Saints tight end Benjamin Watson in free agency, giving the Ravens quarterback plenty of targets to work with next season.
The Ravens also have the sixth overall pick in the upcoming 2016 NFL Draft and will likely look to bolster either their defensive or offensive line, as those are their biggest needs heading into the 2016 season. The Ravens could easily be one of the biggest turn-around teams next season, but much of their success will ride on the health of their star quarterback.
