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With running back Kenneth Dixon already gone for the year due to a knee injury, the NFL Network reported Wednesday night that quarterback Joe Flacco is preparing to missed 3-6 weeks due to a disc issue in his back.

But ESPN's Adam Schefter is reporting team officials believe that Flacco, who underwent an MRI after injuring his back lifting, a week of rest will calm injury and the QB is not expected to miss significant time.

Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio is reporting at a minimum, Flacco will miss a week or two.

But as Florio went on to suggest, even the best-case scenario makes this an ominous situation for the Ravens and the 32-year-old Flacco, given that back injuries once they develop tend to not suddenly disappear for good.

The Ravens have only two other quarterbacks on their roster: veteran backup Ryan Mallett and Dustin Vaughan. That they haven’t added another quarterback for camp could be an indication that the team isn’t too concerned about Flacco’s status.

Flacco, who is entering his 10th season as the Ravens starter, has missed just six games in his career. He tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee during the 2015 season, ending his streak of 137 consecutive starts.

As Baltimore Sun staffer Jeff Zrebiec reminded readers, Flacco returned from the knee injury in time to participate in the first practice of training camp last year. He played all 16 games in 2016, but had one of the most disappointing seasons of his career, averaging 6.42 yards per reception and throwing for 20 touchdowns compared to 15 interceptions.

He didn’t use the knee injury as an excuse for his uneven 2016 performance, but Flacco did acknowledge how beneficial it was to have a healthy offseason where he didn’t have to rehabilitate.

Meanwhile, in addition to Dixon, the Ravens have also lost tight end Dennis Pitta (hip) and cornerback Tavon Young (knee) to season-ending injuries. Pitta has since been released. Tight end Darren Waller also was suspended for the entire season after being found in violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy.

So Flacco's health will be worth watching. We'll follow up as developments warrant.