Flacco and Perriman aren’t the only two players to make a return this summer either, after the Ravens have already welcomed Terrell Suggs, Steve Smith and Elvis Dumervil back over the past two weeks. That plan ended when the 35-year-old tore his right Achilles tendon on the game’s first play.
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Promising rookie running back Kenneth Dixon left the game in the second quarter with a knee sprain and did not return. The team may consider carrying all four backs on their final roster as no one has given the team reason to part ways.
Dixon was trying to push forward on a goal-line carry when Lions defensive tackle and former Raven Haloti Ngata hit his lower leg. Dixon crumbled to the turf and was in obvious pain as trainers ran out to meet him.
Defensively, the starters allowed the Ravens to open the contest with sustained drives of 10, 13 and nine plays, averaging 54 yards.
In total, Detroit was flagged eight times in the first half for 80 yards, hurting the team on both sides of the ball. Meanwhile, Zenner has 11 carries for 28 yards and Winn has rushed just six times for 4 yards.
Beset by injuries while going 5-11 last season, the Ravens hoped this season would be different. But their lengthy injury list includes three tight ends: Watson, Dennis Pitta and Maxx Williams. He finished 14-of-23 passing for just 95 yards with no touchdowns and an interception late in the half that led to a Ravens touchdown. Veteran Matt Prater, on the other hand, kicked a 60-yarder to end the first half. He started next to fellow rookie Alex Lewis, who played left guard for the injured John Urschel (contusion).
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Ravens: With Dixon out, Terrance West appears poised to be the backup behind Justin Forsett. But Allen has multi-faceted value to the offense, displaying that with a fine catch-and-run touchdown against the Panthers.
