The Ravens’ embattled secondary was dealt another blow today, according to the team, which announced (via Twitter) that standout cornerback Jimmy Smith underwent surgery on his injured foot and will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2014 season. The injury was initially expected to keep Smith out of action for a few weeks, but it was determined to be serious enough that he now won’t be back until next season.
“The plan for Jimmy was to do more testing once swelling subsided,” said Ravens head coach John Harbaugh, per Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (Twitter links). “With this exam, doctors decided he needed surgery. That means Jimmy is finished for the season, but is ready for our offseason.”
The coming offseason could wind up being a big one for Smith, whose rookie contract expires at season’s end. The Ravens exercised their fifth-year option on the 26-year-old for 2015, meaning the team will have him under control for one more year, but working out a longer-term arrangement this offseason for the Ravens’ top cornerback could be in the club’s best interest.
In the meantime, a shorthanded Ravens secondary will look to cope with Smith’s absence as best it can. The team released Chykie Brown and Dominique Franks this week, meaning Lardarius Webb is now the only healthy veteran cornerback on the roster. Defensive backs Danny Gorrer and Tramain Jacobs also figure to see plenty of action, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Baltimore add one more veteran corner before this weekend’s game against the Titans. Currently, there are no defensive backs on the team’s practice squad.