Jones, Oher Go Down Early For Ravens In Season Opener

Jones won’t be tormenting the Broncos this time.

The 2013 NFL Season was just over a single quarter of football old when Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Jacoby Jones went down with an injury in their season opener against the Denver Broncos. And it wasn’t even the opposition that took him out—Jones injured his knee when rookie teammate Brynden Trawick collided with him on a punt return.

Following the play it was immediately clear Jones was in some pain. He was able to walk off the field and to the locker room on his own accord, but he moved slowly and deliberately, obviously trying to keep his full weight off the right knee.

Jones was examined in the locker room by team medical staff, who diagnosed him with a sprained knee. His return is questionable—which seems like a generous assessment if you saw him struggling after the collision. Baltimore headed into the locker room up 17-14, but the loss of Jones is huge in their depleted receiving corps.

Since defeating the Broncos in a playoff stunner last January, the Ravens have lost Anquan Boldin to a trade with the San Francisco 49ers and tight end Dennis Pitta to a hip injury for most—if not all—of the regular season.

During their Super Bowl run last season Jones came up big for Baltimore, particularly against the favored Broncos, who were playing at home. It looks like Denver won’t have to worry about any last minute heroics from Jones tonight.

Another player they may not have to account for is right tackle Michael Oher, who suffered a sprained ankle during a second quarter touchdown run by Ravens running back Ray Rice. Like Jones, Oher was hut by his own man—guard Marshal Yanda rolled into him on the play.

Rookie Rick Wagner replaced Oher for the remainder of the half. His return is also questionable.

Update: The statuses of both Jones and Oher were downgraded to ‘doubtful’ after half-time.