After Sunday’s win over the Rams, Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that quarterback played the final three plays of the game after tearing his ACL and added that Flacco likely tore his MCL as well.
On Monday, Harbaugh confirmed that both ligaments have been torn and that he’ll have surgery once swelling has gone down in the knee. That doesn’t change the short-term outlook for Flacco as his season was over whether the MCL was torn or not, but it could make for a more difficult rehab as Flacco prepares for the 2016 season.
Harbaugh said, via Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, that he hopes Flacco will be ready for the start of training camp, although he acknowledges that it is “way early” to make any guesses on that front.
For now, Harbaugh will have to focus on getting Matt Schaub ready to start. It’s the first time anyone other than Flacco will start for a Harbaugh-coached Ravens team.
“It’s been a great blessing,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t know how many coaches have had that kind of run with a quarterback. He’s been an iron man.”
Harbaugh also discussed the need to add a backup for Schaub. He said the team has made progress on that front and that they wouldn’t hold tryouts because they felt comfortable with what they know about the available options. One possibility could be Jimmy Clausen, who was waived by the Bears on Monday and played for Ravens offensive coordinator Marc Trestman in Chicago last season. The team could also bring back Bryn Renner, who spent time with the team in the preseason.