Terrell Suggs expected to miss season

Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl outside linebacker Terrell Suggs has torn his Achilles tendon working out in Arizona and is likelyout for the season as he'll require surgery to repair the damage, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation

Suggs expressed hope that he might be able to return at some point this season, saying it's a partial tear.

"We do a conditioning test every year and I was practicing it," Suggs said via text message. "And I went to stop and turn and I thought I sprained it. Went to doc and said it's a partial tear. Will he play this year? "Absolutely, middle to end of October," Suggs indicated. "Definitely beginning of November. I love how you guys (media) are saying out for the season. Just gonna make my comeback that much bigger." “We are in contact with Terrell," the Ravens said in a statement. "He will see a specialist early next week, and we’ll know more at that time.”

If Suggs is out for even half of or the majority of the season, it's a devastating blow to the NFL's third-ranked defense from last season.

Suggs, 29, is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

He led the Ravens with a career-high 14 sacks last season and forced a franchise-record seven fumbles.

The Ravens have some options to play Suggs' rush linebacker spot: second-round rookie outside linebacker Courtney Upshaw, an All-American from Alabama, former second-round pick Paul Kruger, who had 5 1/2 sacks last season and is the frontrunner to play strongside outside linebacker, and Pernell McPhee.

McPhee is more of a traditional defensive end, a sixth-round pick who had six sacks in limited action as a rookie last year.



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