Kamar Aiken wasn't exactly sure what to expect the first time he went out to catch passes from Joe Flacco this offseason.
The veteran quarterback hadn't thrown much at all since tearing his ACL Nov. 24, and he was just recently starting to build back his arm strength to get ready for training camp.
But after having a few of Flacco's passes come his way the last couple weeks, Aiken forgot the quarterback had even been injured at all.
"He looks like regular Joe to me," Aiken said last week. "He came back in and looks the same – the exact same."
Flacco is known for having one of the best arms in the NFL, and the fact that he has re-gained his throwing power just a little more than six months after surgery is impressive. Flacco said at last month's minicamp that he expected to be full-go for the start of training camp, and all signs indicate that will be the case.
"He looks 100 percent to me," Aiken said.
Before suffering the season-ending injury last year, the 31-year-old quarterback had never missed a game in his NFL career.
He's known as a tough player who can fight through injuries, and he has also impressed teammates with how quickly he has recovered from the ACL tear. Flacco was off crutches just a few weeks after surgery, and hardly had a limp by the time the Ravens went into the offseason.
"He definitely recovered mighty fast for anybody coming off an ACL, as far as not having any limp or lags," Aiken said. "He did surprise me that he looked like his regular self. I didn't expect it, but I wouldn't put it past him at the same time."
Flacco has a couple more weeks to make the final stages in his recovery process. The Ravens will hold their first practice of training camp July 28.
"I'm just happy to get him back," Aiken said.
