News & Info/Headlines

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Kenneth Dixon's meniscus tear is more extensive than the Ravens originally believed. The second-year running back is expected to miss the entire 2017 season after undergoing surgery to repair his medial meniscus on Tuesday, Rapoport reported, citing a source informed for the situation.

Before Dixon went under the knife, the Ravens hoped he would miss just a few weeks with a "trim" rather than a full repair.

While Tuesday's procedure bodes well for Dixon's long-term health, the recovery timetable is four-to-five months.

So as the Ravens open training camp with their first full-squad practice set for Thursday morning, Terrance West heads their running back depth chart. West, who will be a free agent after the 2017 season, led the team last year with 193 carries for 774 yards and five touchdowns while sharing the workload with Dixon.

West also had the team's longest single run (41 yards) of the season and led the team's running backs in receiving with 34 catches for 236 yards and one touchdown. He was just three receptions and 30 yards behind Pro Bowl FB Kyle Juszczyk (who moved on to the 49ers in free agency).

Signed this offseason and coming off a knee injury, Danny Woodhead is behind West on the depth chart and is expected to be used extensively on third down and in the red zone. Woodhead led NFL backs with 80 receptions in 2015 for the San Diego Chargers. He played just two games last year because of a torn ACL.

Behind West and Woodhead are Buck Allen, Bobby Rainey, who was signed after news of Dixon's injury broke, and undrafted rookie Taquan Mizzell who had a productive college career at Virginia.

And, as the Baltimore Sun notes, the Ravens also could use converted fullback Lorenzo Taliaferro on occasion as a ball carrier.

Should that group fall short, NFL.com's Chris Wesseling believes the Ravens could take a look at available free agents such as Rashad Jennings, DeAngelo Williams, Khiry Robinson or James Starks.

Wesseling further suggested that if the team's brass is desperate enough to send out trade feelers, Carlos Hyde is a name to keep in mind. San Francisco's new regime has been reluctant to gift-wrap the starting job for the oft-injured power back. Hyde entered the league under former 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman, who is now a Baltimore assistant charged with revitalizing the ground attack.

Meanwhile, I'll remind you the Ravens have emphasized getting back to a power running game this season as they’ve had one of the league’s worst ground attacks for two consecutive years. A long-term injury to Dixon doesn't help matters, but it does offer some clarity to fantasy owners who can now focus their collective attention on West and Woodhead.