The Baltimore Ravens are a popular pick to return to the playoffs this season following a disastrous, injury-marred campaign in 2015.
General manager Ozzie Newsome isn't ready to talk up his team, but the Ravens' 5-11 finish was partially an illusion: They stumbled through the year with wideout Steve Smith, running back Justin Forsett, pass rusher Terrell Suggs, center Jeremy Zuttah, tight end Crockett Gillmore and first-round receiver Breshad Perriman each missing major time.
Those players are all expected to be ready for September, along with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, still making his way back from the torn ACL and MCL he suffered in November.
"It's still going really, really well. Over the past three weeks, I've started to feel some big improvements. I feel good about it," Flacco said Tuesday, per Luke Jones of WNST-AM. "I can do everything pretty much. It's just a matter of how well I can do it and (if) I have a little limp here and there."
Flacco has resumed running on his surgically repaired left knee, but the veteran passer acknowledged that he isn't able to cut or race at "full speed."
Flacco also said he hasn't thrown much beyond 15 yards, but is "getting closer" to doing so.
Barring a setback, Flacco is on track to be all-systems go by Week 1 -- or even by camp. It's another reason why we have the Ravens ticketed for big things in the AFC North, no matter what happened a year ago.
