Baltimore Ravens lose star cornerback to knee injury

The Baltimore Ravens have had a rough 10-day stretch with injuries and it only got worse as cornerback Marcus Peters suffered a torn ACL during Thursday’s practice, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Per the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Ravens cut practice short Thursday after defensive back Marcus Peters and running back Gus Edwards sustained significant knee injuries on back-to-back plays. ESPN’s Adam Schefter originally reported that the team fears that the cornerback suffered a torn ACL.

The injuries continue to pile on for Baltimore.

The Ravens lost J.K Dobbins and Justice Hill for the season in a five-day span. Now, they lose a third running back in the aforementioned Edwards. Dobbins suffered a torn ACL in the Ravens’ preseason finale, while Hill suffered a torn Achilles last Thursday. Wide receiver Miles Boykin was placed on injured reserve for a hamstring injury, while promising rookie receiver Rashod Bateman was also placed on injured reserve after undergoing groin surgery in August.

To replace the loss of Dobbins, Hill and Edwards, the Ravens have signed veterans Le’Veon Bell and Devonta Freeman on Wednesday and Thursday.

With the loss of Marcus Peters, fourth-year cornerback Anthony Averett and experienced veteran Jimmy Smith will be expected to step into bigger roles.

Last season, Averett, an Alabama product, played in 10 games and started four, breaking up seven passes while making 27 tackles. He missed a few games due to injury, but when veteran defensive back Jimmy Smith went down late in the year, Averett stepped in. 

Reflecting on Marcus Peters’ Career

Peters was entering his third season in Baltimore and his seventh season in the NFL. Over the last two seasons, Peters and Marlon Humphery made up one of the top cornerback duos in the league. Peters recorded 52 tackles, four interceptions and four forced fumbles last season, helping Baltimore to the AFC Divisional Round, where the Ravens lost to the Buffalo Bills.

The Washington product entered in the league in 2015 after being drafted in the first round by the Kansas City. In his career, Peters has played for three teams, the Chiefs, the Los Angeles Rams and the Ravens. Over six seasons, he’s recorded 299 tackles, 31 interceptions, 86 passes deflected and nine forced fumbles. Peters won Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2015, earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2016 and 2019, earned two second-team All-Pro honors and made three Pro Bowls in his career.

At Washington, Peters finished with 129 tackles, 9.5 tackles for loss, 16 passes deflected, 11 interceptions and two fumble recoveries in three seasons.