The Baltimore Ravens might have picked up their first big win of the season, beating the Seattle Seahawks 30-16 in Week 7. But they lost outside linebacker Pernell McPhee to a torn triceps in the process. The Ravens announced today they’ve placed McPhee on injured reserve.
This marks the third consecutive game in which Baltimore has lost a defensive starter. Safeties Tony Jefferson and DeShon Elliott were lost to season-ending injuries after weeks 5 and 6, respectively. But the loss of McPhee will be a far bigger blow to a defense that was just finally starting to come together.
The Ravens scrambled to find pass rush help this offseason after Za’Darius Smith and Terrell Suggs signed elsewhere in free agency. The eventually turned to McPhee, who played his first four seasons in Baltimore after the Ravens took him in the fifth round of the 2011 draft. Last season, he didn’t post in limited action with the Washington Redskins, but this year he stepped up immediately in training camp. With young players like Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams failing to provide much production, McPhee had not only won the starting job but had been playing quite a lot this season (61% of defensive snaps, per Pro Football Reference).
Through seven games, McPhee had posted three sacks and six quarterback hits. With him sidelined for the season, Baltimore will have to hope a young linebacker steps up immediately or pull off a deal before the NFL’s trade deadline on Oct. 29.
