Baltimore Ravens Lose Running Back J.K. Dobbins to Season-Ending Injury

Posted on: September 11, 2023, 10:16h. 

Last updated on: September 11, 2023, 01:03h.

Pauly McGuire Read More
Expertise: Sports Betting, Sports.

Running back J.K. Dobbins from the Baltimore Ravens sustained a season-ending Achilles injury in the NFL season opener against the Houston Texans.

Ravens JK Dobbins injury
Medical staff and trainers from the Baltimore Ravens attend to running back J.K. Dobbins after he went down with an Achilles injury against the Houston Texans at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore. (Image: Getty)

The injury happened in the third quarter when Dobbins was tackled on the two-yard line. He narrowly missed scoring the second touchdown of the game.

You can’t replace a J.K.,” said Ravens guard Kevin Zeitler. “Special guy, both football-wise and personality-wise. He helps keep his team moving and all that. So, an absolute gut punch and heartbreaking.”

Dobbins rushed eight times and added two receptions before his injury. He contributed 37 yards from scrimmage and scored one touchdown.

The Ravens defeated the Texans in a 25-9 victory. Backup running back Justice Hill scored two touchdowns while replacing Dobbins in the lineup.

The Ravens lost three other starters, including two offensive linemen, against the Texans. Center Tyler Linderbaum (calf) and left tackle Ronnie Stanley (knee) went down with injuries and were replaced by backups. Safety Marcus Williams sustained a shoulder injury that the Ravens fear could be a season-ending torn pectoral muscle.

Another Season-Ending Injury for Dobbins

Dobbins was ranked in the top 20 in overall running backs heading into this season. Some fantasy football sites, including Draft Sharks, listed Dobbins as high as #12.

In the final preseason game of the 2021 season, Dobbins sustained a season-ending knee injury. He missed the entire 2021 season and did not return to the Ravens until midway through the 2022 season. He suited up for eight games last season but had yet to fully recover from his ACL injury and reconstructive knee surgery.

Dobbins entered this season full of optimism, especially because it was the final year of his contract. He said he was 100% healthy for the first time in three seasons, which makes his current situation even more heartbreaking.

That’s very unfortunate,” said Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. “He’s been busting his behind to get back on that field and just show what he’s capable of and to help us out along the way. For him to go down with a season-ending injury, that’s just very unfortunate, not just him, but for all of us.”

A ruptured Achilles injury typically takes 18 months to heal, so Dobbins is expected to miss the remainder of this season and probably most of the 2024 season. Running backs often bounce back from serious knee injuries, but an Achilles injury could threaten a career.

Kind of crestfallen for him,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh. “We will put our arms around him, and he’ll get into rehab, and he will be back. Yeah, it’s really hard for him.”

The Ravens selected Dobbins, an All-American running back from Ohio State, with a second-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Ravens Betting Cofavorites in the AFC North

The Ravens were the largest favorite on the betting board in Week 1. They opened as a 9.5-point favorite over the Texans and covered in a 16-point victory. They began the season with a 1-0 record against the spread (ATS). The Ravens were 7-9-1 ATS during the regular season last year.

The Ravens opened the new season with a victory, but their Super Bowl LVIII futures took a slight dip at DraftKings. They ended the preseason at +1800 odds to win the Super Bowl, and they’re currently +2000. You can back them at +1000 odds to win the AFC Championship.

Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals were a popular preseason pick to win the Super Bowl, but they were thrashed by the Cleveland Browns in Week 1. The Bengals seek a third-straight AFC North title, but their divisional odds slipped from +140 to +245 after starting the season 0-1.

The Browns and Ravens are both 1-0 and are now cofavorites to win the AFC North at +200 odds. The Ravens began the season as the second favorite on the board to win the “Smashmouth Division” of the NFL at +235 odds.

The Ravens are -180 odds to make the playoffs and +140 odds to miss the postseason.

The Bengals host the Ravens in a divisional match-up in Week 2. The Ravens find themselves as +3 road underdogs in their first away game of the season.

The Bengals were 2-1 straight up and 1-2 ATS against the Ravens last season, which includes a playoff victory in the AFC Wild Card.