Latest news with #BilhalKone
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens rookie CB carted off field with injury vs. Colts
The post Ravens rookie CB carted off field with injury vs. Colts appeared first on ClutchPoints. Things were already a little messy at the cornerback position for the Baltimore Ravens after a practice fight, but they got even worse when sixth-round rookie Bilhal Kone suffered a leg injury on Thursday night, according to a post on X by Ari Meirov. '#Ravens 6th-round rookie CB Bilhal Kone suffered a knee injury and was immediately ruled out after being carted off with an air cast on his leg. Not good.' A later update confirmed the severity of the injury, according to a post on X by Jordan Schultz. '#Ravens rookie CB Bilhal Kone tore his ACL and MCL in tonight's preseason game vs the #Colts, per sources. The 6th-rounder out of Western Michigan was having an excellent camp and will now miss the entire 2025 season.' It's a tough blow for Kone, who stood as a member of the third team at the right cornerback spot behind starter Jaire Alexander and backup T.J. Tampa. And it's rough for head coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens, who harbor dreams of the Super Bowl. Ravens CB Bilhal Kone suffers injury The injury occurred in the first quarter of the preseason game against the Colts, according to ESPN. 'Kone … was battling Colts wide receiver Ashton Dulin down the left sideline when he went down in the end zone on an incomplete pass,' Jamison Hensley wrote. 'He was visibly in pain and immediately grabbed his left leg.' It's a hard path for Kone, who said he was determined to honor his family with his performances, according to Kone suffered childhood poverty and the death of his younger brother before this three-college trek to the NFL. Kone said his brother was on his mind the day of the NFL Draft. 'Playing football is when my expressions come out and I have this high energy motor about me that I know comes from my little brother,' Kone said. 'I'm ready to go at any time, and I don't get tired quickly. Neither did my little brother. I definitely have his spirit through me every time I'm out on the field.' It's a difficult thing for the Ravens to move forward without Kone. Any depth is important because Alexander wasn't able to consistently stay on the field with the Packers. Related: Colts rookie CB suffers season-ending injury in NFL preseason loss to Ravens Related: Ravens HC John Harbaugh breaks brutal season-ending news on injured rookie
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens HC John Harbaugh breaks brutal season-ending news on injured rookie
The post Ravens HC John Harbaugh breaks brutal season-ending news on injured rookie appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Baltimore Ravens' hopes for a healthy start to their 2025 campaign took a major hit after head coach John Harbaugh delivered a devastating update regarding rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone. The rookie, who was fighting for a roster spot in training camp, is now out for the entire season with a knee injury. The news immediately sent shockwaves through Ravens circles, igniting concern over the team's already thin secondary. The injury occurred in Baltimore's preseason opener against the Indianapolis Colts, with Kone suffering a non-contact knee injury during a deep coverage play late in the first quarter. Medical staff quickly carted him off the field with an air cast, and the worst fears were soon confirmed. Adam Schefter took to his X (formerly known as Twitter) account, sharing a video of Ravens coach addressing the press and confirming the season-ending nature of the injury. 'John Harbaugh announced Ravens CB Bilhal Kone tore a ligament in his knee and he will be out for the season.' Kone, drafted in the sixth round by Baltimore, came into camp with promise after a college career at Western Michigan where he was known for his speed and zone coverage ability. He was considered a developmental nickel option with potential special teams value. Now, his journey faces a harsh setback as he begins a lengthy rehab process. The emotional impact is significant, with fans and teammates offering support after learning about his personal drive—having overcome adversity, including the loss of a younger brother. The update from Harbaugh raises tough questions for the Ravens cornerback depth chart, especially with injuries already taking a toll on the defense. Kone's absence means Baltimore will need to rely more heavily on proven veterans like Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, and Jaire Alexander—talented players who form a formidable core, but still leave the team thin if further injuries strike. As the season approaches, the team may look to internal options such as Ar'Darius Washington or consider adding a free agent to boost competition and depth. For the Ravens, this preseason setback is a stark reminder of how quickly rookie dreams can be derailed in the NFL, and how critical it is to have depth at every spot—especially in a conference loaded with elite offenses. Related: Ravens HC John Harbaugh slaps passing game vs. Colts with harsh truth bomb Related: Colts rookie CB suffers season-ending injury in NFL preseason loss to Ravens
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens lose another rookie CB to season-ending injury
The post Ravens lose another rookie CB to season-ending injury appeared first on ClutchPoints. Earlier this week, it was announced by Baltimore Ravens head coach Jim Harbaugh that the team had lost rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone to a season-ending knee injury. Now, the Ravens have received another devastating injury update regarding another cornerback they selected in this past April's NFL Draft. 'Sixth-round rookie Robert Longerbeam (knee) has been placed on injured reserve after missing the Ravens' preseason opener and Saturday's practice,' the team announced on their official website. The team also announced that 'in a corresponding move, the Ravens signed veteran running back Myles Gaskin on Sunday.' This means that both cornerbacks Baltimore selected in this year's NFL Draft are now out with injuries before their NFL careers even had the chance to begin. It's a devastating update for a team that was already growing thin in the defensive back department. However, the team did make sure to assure fans in their statement that 'Baltimore still has a deep cornerback rotation featuring Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, and Jalyn Armour-Davis.' Baltimore enters this season on the short list of NFL teams with a legitimate chance to compete for a Super Bowl title. The Ravens pushed all of their chips to the center of the table this offseason by bringing in Jaire Alexander from the Green Bay Packers, alongside some other moves to give two-time league MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson as much help as possible. Last year, the Ravens shook off a slow start to advance to the divisional round of the AFC playoffs, where they lost to Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills in a tightly-contested game. The Ravens will get another crack at the Bills immediately to open up their season on September 7, once again in Buffalo. That game is set for a prime time start as part of NBC's Sunday Night Football broadcast. Related: Ravens add 13-TD weapon to Derrick Henry-led RB room Related: The biggest surprise from Ravens' first unofficial depth chart of 2025 NFL season
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ravens rookie getting all the flowers after dominating Colts
The post Ravens rookie getting all the flowers after dominating Colts appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Baltimore Ravens kicked off their NFL preseason slate with a home game against the Indianapolis Colts. The Ravens won, 24-16, in a run-heavy attack led by Keaton Mitchell and D'Ernest Johnson. The win was overshadowed by some brutal injuries, including a season-ending blow to sixth-round rookie Bilhal Kone and the Ravens also announced that sixth-round rookie Robert Longerbeam landed on Injured Reserve after missing the game. There were some positives from the Baltimore rookies, including the play of former Colorado star LaJohntay Wester, who had an exciting punt return touchdown. However, one Ravens rookie stood out above the rest: Second-round linebacker Mike Green. While Green just had one tackle, he did a lot of other things in the game and captured the attention of other Baltimore staffers, as Jordan Schultz mentioned. 'Spoke with someone on the #Ravens' staff about rookie DE Mike Green: 'He just knows how to get to the QB.' They wanted to see it vs a real opponent and loved what he did against the #Colts — where he had a 30 percent pass-rush win rate.' That staffer added more intel on Green's performance, per Schultz. 'He's relentless… You feel him every snap. It's fun to watch his tape and see the bend he has for his size. He's gonna be a great player.' NFL Network analyst Brian Baldinger also posted a clip of Green's performance from the game with the following: 'What I loved was he wasn't afraid to try a lot of different pass rush moves…and he has an advanced array of rushes.' Green began his college career at Virginia before playing his final two seasons at Marshall and putting up big numbers. In his two years at Marshall, he had 60 solo tackles with 32 tackles for loss and 21.5 sacks while being named Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year in 2024. The Ravens next preseason game is against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, and for now, all eyes are on Mike Green. Related: Ravens WR DeAndre Hopkins drops truth bomb on Lamar Jackson partnership Related: Ravens lose another rookie CB to season-ending injury
New York Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Ravens need veteran defensive backs to break trends as secondary injuries mount
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A few months before the Baltimore Ravens reported to training camp, veteran safety/slot corner Ar'Darius Washington tore his Achilles, which will sideline him for most, if not all, of the upcoming season. In last week's preseason opener, rookie sixth-round cornerback Bilhal Kone tore up his left knee, prematurely ending his season. Minutes after Sunday's practice began, the Ravens announced that cornerback Robert Longerbeam, also a rookie sixth-rounder, was placed on injured reserve. That, in effect, ends his season. Advertisement 'It's a long story, it's just a long story,' Ravens coach John Harbaugh said when asked about Longerbeam, who limped off the practice field July 31 after a collision with rookie wide receiver LaJohntay Wester. 'I really couldn't even explain it to you, as much as I want to. It is what it is.' The Ravens watching their defensive backfield get banged up is an annual rite of the summer, and it's happening again. The good news is cornerback T.J. Tampa, who played 80 defensive snaps and 16 more on special teams in the preseason opener, returned Sunday after missing Saturday's practice. And undrafted rookie cornerback Keyon Martin was back on the field Sunday after prematurely exiting the previous day's practice with a limp. Baltimore also made an addition to its secondary Saturday by signing cornerback M.J. Devonshire, who was waived by the Carolina Panthers last month. Devonshire, however, is more of a temporary solution for a team that needs healthy bodies, as two preseason games and several training camp practices, including one with the Washington Commanders, remain. The recent injury issues at cornerback underscore the importance of several veterans to remain as healthy as possible in the coming weeks. That has been a challenge in recent years for guys such as Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, Tampa and Jalyn Armour-Davis, who will presumably occupy the third, fourth, fifth and sixth cornerback spots behind Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins. The 28-year-old Alexander, who didn't practice Sunday and who had his knee drained earlier in camp, has played more than seven games in a regular season just once over the past four years. Awuzie, 30, has played eight games or fewer in three of the past five years. He understands what's been his biggest challenge. 'Honestly, it's just health, really,' Awuzie said Saturday. 'I think the past couple of years I have had some struggles with my health, but now this training staff has done an amazing job with me, working with me, getting me capable and confident with my body, and going out there and just trying new things. Obviously, it's practice, so you're trying new things, trying new techniques, working through different defenses, working on chemistry and all that stuff. So, I don't know if it's good or not, but I know that with more repetitions, it's going to get there.' Advertisement Tampa dealt with several injuries as a rookie and was limited to just seven games. Armour-Davis, 25, has played just 19 games over his first three NFL seasons and has dealt with a litany of injuries over his young career. 'Really, my entire offseason was dedicated toward (staying healthy), whether it was change of nutrition or workout routine. I believe just the team that I have around me, from my trainer to my pilates teacher to management, everything that's around me, I think has been very healthy for me this offseason,' Armour-Davis said following Saturday's practice. 'I've seen great results from it. So being able to continue to do those things throughout the season and even building on top of that is something that's still a main goal for me.' Armour-Davis has had a strong start to training camp, and he played well in the team's preseason victory over the Indianapolis Colts. Once believed to be on the bubble this summer, Armour-Davis now looks close to a roster lock, particularly now that Kone and Longerbeam are out. Their injuries also seemingly open the door for undrafted rookie defensive back Reuben Lowery, who has been one of the stories of training camp with his penchant for being around the football. The former Tennessee-Chattanooga standout had another interception, this one against Cooper Rush, in Sunday's practice as he continues to move up the Ravens' depth chart. 'I hate to say it, because he was a heck of a player in college, too, but to come out here and play at the level he has — on point and know what he's doing so well — has been really impressive,' Harbaugh said. 'He's played every position. He played all three corner spots, he's played both safety positions, so can't wait to see him in Dallas and see how he plays down there.' • On Saturday, after a string of four pre-snap penalties in about 10 plays, Harbaugh sent his second-team offensive line off the field and got new guys in there. On Sunday, the Ravens had two false starts in the first three plays, prompting quarterback Lamar Jackson to spike the football in disgust. The two offenders, left tackle Ronnie Stanley and right tackle Roger Rosengarten, went to the sideline for a play, then Harbaugh gestured for the entire starting offensive line to leave the field in favor of the second-stringers. Advertisement Pre-snap penalties have been an issue for the Ravens all summer as they work on using cadence more at the line of scrimmage. After the rocky start on Saturday, the Ravens were much cleaner offensively and had one of their best practices. Jackson was sharp, particularly in the red zone, as he connected with Rashod Bateman for two long touchdowns. Zay Flowers and tight ends Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar saw the ball often as well. Balled out — Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 10, 2025 • Andrews is one of the most respected players in the Ravens' locker room, and each practice brings more examples of why. In Saturday's session, he found himself one-on-one blocking rookie outside linebacker Mike Green on the edge. Andrews gave up some ground early, but he kept battling and did enough to keep Green from impacting the quarterback. The play earned immediate praise from coaches nearby and from Kolar, who met Andrews on the field to congratulate him. In the next period, Andrews caught a Jackson pass in traffic and was hit hard by rookie safety Malaki Starks, who broke on the ball. Andrews went right back to the huddle. On the next play, he caught another Jackson pass and lowered his shoulder into rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan. All of this happened in a 10-minute span of Saturday's practice. Nobody on the Ravens practices harder than Andrews. • Running back Myles Gaskin, who practiced for the first time with the Ravens on Sunday after agreeing to terms a day earlier, had 846 all-purpose yards and seven touchdowns for the Miami Dolphins in 2021, so he isn't your prototypical camp body. However, that essentially will be what he is with the Ravens unless their injury issues at the running back position persist. Derrick Henry and Justice Hill are unlikely to play much, if at all, in the preseason. No. 3 back Keaton Mitchell is dealing with a minor groin injury. The Ravens will be cautious with him and make sure he's ready for the season opener on Sept. 7. Undrafted rookie Marcus Major was cleared to return to practice over the weekend after dealing with a concussion, but he's still wearing a non-contact jersey. The Ravens needed more than Rasheen Ali and D'Ernest Johnson as running back options for Saturday's game in Dallas. • In the first red zone period Saturday, second-year receiver Dayton Wade went up high right around the goal line to make a contested catch. He then won both of his one-on-ones, beating undrafted rookie Marquise Robinson cleanly on the second one. Veteran Anthony Miller had a strong one-on-one session, getting the best of Lowery and then making a one-handed catch with Starks in coverage. Undrafted rookie receiver Jahmal Banks had his best practice of the summer, using his 6-foot-3, 218-pound frame to haul in several catches. The Ravens' receivers can do the math. They know that with Wester's dynamic performance in the preseason opener and Devontez Walker's improvement from last year, there probably are no available receiving spots on the relatively soon-to-be 53-man roster. They are essentially playing for a practice squad spot in Baltimore or for 31 other teams, and they want to make plays to earn a job. That's why it has to be frustrating to get little to no opportunities, as was the case in the preseason opener when the Ravens completed five total passes. (Top photo of T.J. Tampa, Jaire Alexander: Patrick Smith / Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle
