Baltimore Ravens Terrell Suggs hopes to return by October

AFC runners-up the Baltimore Ravens were dealt a huge blow yesterday when it was revealed that key defensive 'baller Terrell Suggs sustained a serious injury.

With the NFL Draft taking place a week prior, it couldn't have happened at a worse time. Had it happened shortly before, the Ravens could have drafted extra cover in his position.

Achilles injuries can take a long time to heal, and it was originally speculated that Suggs could miss the whole 2012 season.

Now it looks like he could at least be back for the play-offs, should the Ravens get there without him, while he hopes it will be even earlier.

He told the Baltimore Sun that of the two doctor's he's seen, both have diagnosed it differently, one telling it was a partial tear and the other a full tear, and he intends to see a specialist next week.

Suggs said: "It's amazing people are starting to write me off for the whole season. It will take three or four months to heal."

The Ravens don't face key divisional rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers until November 18, and he will hope to be back for that.

Last year 'T-Sizzle' was an instrumental player in the Ravens clean sweep of the Steelers, sacking Ben Roethlisberger on numerous occasions.

He was voted NFL defensive player of the year for 2011, with 14 sacks in total, 70 tackles, and two interceptions, but his form trailed off from December onwards.

Watch the hard hitting highlights of Suggs in action last season:

How much of a blow is Suggs' absence for the Ravens? Can they cope without him until he returns?

image: © Keith Allison

Dan Coombs

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Dan Coombs is a writer who is keen to embrace the internet revolution. He first started writing for us in June 2011 and commenced his new role as Sports Editor in February 2012.

As a trained journalist he has met famous faces from Mr T to Boris Johnson. He once featured in an England World Cup music video too, but it did not make the charts.

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