<
        >

          NFL Nation

          Wake-up caw: Mild MCL sprain for Flacco?

          • Jamison Hensley, ESPN Staff WriterDec 19, 2013, 08:00 AM ET
            Close
              Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
            Follow on X

          Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco declined to give any details about his left knee injury, but a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that an MRI revealed a mild MCL sprain.

          Flacco is wearing a protective knee brace and is expected to play Sunday against the New England Patriots. He has never had a severe knee injury in his football career, but he wore a brace after injuring his MCL on the same knee in his junior season at Delaware.

          "I don't know if it will be a necessity or not, but I'm going to wear [the brace]," Flacco said after Wednesday's practice. "There's no reason not to."

          Here's the rest of your wake-up caw ...

          • Running back Ray Rice told New England reporters in a conference call that he would consider retirement once he hits 30 years old. Rice turns 27 next month and is finishing his sixth NFL season. “It’s always something to think about at the running back position,” Rice said, via Comcast SportsNet. “I’ll just put it out there – my goal was to make it 10 years in the NFL. Anything after 10, if I can’t do it the way I want to, then it’s something to think about."

          • The Baltimore Sun's Mike Preston says there is a good reason why tight end Dennis Pitta was held to two catches on Monday night. "Pitta was doubled covered most of the evening," Preston writes. "When a weapon gets taken away, another needs to step up. It was sad that Torrey Smith did not have a bigger day, but Jacoby Jones stepped up. I would expect that Pitta will get a couple of catches each week and keep getting worked into a full-time role in the offense. If the Ravens make the playoffs, his role will continue to expand."

          • After kicker Justin Tucker gave a shout-out to fantasy football owners on "Monday Night Football," wide receiver Torrey Smith made it clear that he's not a fan of those criticizing him for not producing enough fantasy points. Smith had four catches for 69 yards and no touchdowns on Monday night. "I hate y'all fantasy folks who are tweeting me about your fake team...y'all make me sick...Ravens win that's all that matters to me," Smith posted on Twitter.