OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- When outside linebacker David Ojabo joined the Baltimore Ravens, the rookie second-round pick told coach John Harbaugh that he would be back from a torn Achilles by October.
Ojabo backed up that prediction.
He practiced for the first time for Baltimore on Wednesday, getting on the field just seven months after rupturing the Achilles tendon in his left foot during Michigan's pro day. Ojabo was projected to be a top-15 selection in this year's draft before suffering the devastating injury in March, which caused him to fall to the 45th overall pick.
"I'm very impressed," Harbaugh said Wednesday. "[But] today was just the first step."
The Ravens now have a 21-day window in which they can activate him off injured reserve. Harbaugh said Ojabo will not play in Sunday's game at the New York Giants.
There was concern that Ojabo would be sidelined for the entire season when he was injured running a positional drill at Michigan. Baltimore still selected him in the second round six weeks later.
"Day by day to see a better day," Ojabo posted to Twitter after Wednesday's practice,
.@DavidOjabo at practice ‼️ pic.twitter.com/Cn7mQBunuf
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 12, 2022
day by day to see a better day🖤God is the greatest!
— KingJabo👑 (@DavidOjabo) October 12, 2022
Injuries have dwindled Baltimore's outside linebackers to just three players on the current 53-man roster: Odafe Oweh, Jason Pierre-Paul and Malik Harrison. The team's outside linebackers have five sacks through five games, and Baltimore's pass rush win rate (40.6%) ranks 19th in the NFL.
Ojabo was the top projected outside linebacker in this year's draft by ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. after he had a career-best 11 sacks and five forced fumbles -- tops among all Power 5 players -- in his only full season of college football.
"I think everybody is excited to see what he can do. We really just don't know," Ravens defensive end Calais Campbell said. "You saw his potential when he was in college and the energy he brings. You can see his strong confidence. I can't wait to see what he does when he's out there. It's just a matter of time."
In addition to Ojabo, outside linebacker Tyus Bowser, who started all 17 games last season, practiced Wednesday for the first time since tearing an Achilles in the season finale. He is on the physically unable to perform list.