Finally, Ravens first-round rookie wide receiver Breshad Perriman is back on the field after eight weeks away.
Perriman has been out since the first day of training camp on July 30 with a knee injury.
The knee injury was originally seen as very minor, but days turned into weeks and then into months, and Head Coach John Harbaugh classified it as a sprain/strain.
Now, almost two months later, Perriman is nearing his first NFL game. It's unclear whether Perriman will be ready in time to face the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday.
Perriman didn't speak to the media on Thursday, but Offensive Coordinator Marc Trestman gave his take on his return.
"We're excited to see him. He's got a helmet on and he's working back into it," Trestman said. "We're hopeful he'll be back as soon as possible. It's really day to day and it'll be up to the doctors and the trainers to make that decision when he comes out."
Trestman was asked whether Perriman will be in good enough football shape to quickly make an impact.
"I know he's been working and there's ways to get your cardio in without excessive running, but that's a day-to-day process between him and the guys getting him back to good health," he said.
Perriman did not participate in all the same work as his fellow wide receivers in Thursday's practice (in the portion open to the media), but did do some of the positional drills, including some route-running and catching. The receivers didn't seem to be going at full speed.
Perriman's return would mean big things for the Ravens offense, which has had a tough time stretching the field without their rookie speedster, who was slated to step in for departed free agent Torrey Smith.
Veteran wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. has carried the wideouts through the first two games, catching 12 passes for 163 yards. The next closest is fellow starter Kamar Aiken, who has six grabs for 88 yards.
