Pro Bowl Cornerback Marlon Humphrey to Undergo Foot Surgery, Depleting Ravens’ Thin Position
August 16, 2023
OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Baltimore Ravens have been dealt a significant blow as Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey will undergo foot surgery, forcing him to spend some time on the sidelines. The news comes as a big hit to the Ravens, who are already struggling with depth at the cornerback position.
Ravens coach John Harbaugh revealed that the team is unsure of the exact timeline for Humphrey’s return as his foot injury has been a lingering problem. However, Harbaugh remains optimistic that it won’t be a long-term absence for the star defender.
Humphrey’s injury adds to the Ravens’ woes at cornerback, as Rock Ya-Sin, the team’s other starting cornerback, has been out of action since August 3 due to a knee injury. Although Ya-Sin’s injury is not considered significant, it further weakens the team’s cornerback rotation.
Jalyn Armour-Davis, Arthur Maulet, and Damarion Williams have also been sidelined throughout the week with various injuries. Williams, in particular, is not expected to return until October after undergoing ankle surgery. To make matters worse, the Ravens have already lost Trayvon Mullen, a 2019 second-round draft pick from the Las Vegas Raiders, for the entire season due to a toe injury he sustained before the start of training camp.
With their top cornerbacks off the field, the Ravens have had to rely on players like Brandon Stephens, who transitioned from safety during training camp, and Kevon Seymour, who is already on his fourth team in a six-year career. Harbaugh admitted that there is a lot of short-term concern and emphasized the need for the existing players to step up, while also acknowledging that the team is evaluating potential roster additions.
Marlon Humphrey, 27, is widely regarded as one of the best playmaking cornerbacks in Ravens history. A three-time Pro Bowler, Humphrey’s ability to create turnovers is highlighted by his career statistics, which include double-digit forced fumbles and interceptions. He joins the ranks of Ravens legends Ray Lewis and Ed Reed as the only players in franchise history to achieve this feat.
Looking ahead, the Ravens’ defense faces the challenge of defending against rookie quarterbacks in two of the first three weeks of the regular season. They will go up against C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans in Week 1 and Anthony Richardson of the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3. Losing a leader like Humphrey is undoubtedly a blow to the defense, but middle linebacker Roquan Smith expressed confidence that the team will rally in his absence.
“It definitely hurts the defense when a leader like Marlon is not out there with us,” said Smith. “I know he’ll get back as soon as he can, and we’ll pick up the slack when he’s not out there.”
The Ravens will now need to regroup and search for solutions to address their cornerback woes before the start of the regular season.