[News] Devin Hester: Injuries, Lack Of Practice Causing Fumbling Issues

[BR News]

The Ravens' chief returner said one hamstring injury has led to another in the other leg, which has held him out of practice and limited his lateral movement. Add it up, and he doesn’t feel comfortable.

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[Asmodeus1971]

I put a big part of this on the coaches and the FO. Sorry, you don't sign a player just before the beginning of the season to start game one, who wasn't on another team and practicing. No way he was in football shape and you are just asking for pulled muscles and similar issues. They should have signed him mid August so he would have at least been more in game shape, maybe he wouldn't have had these problems or they would have surfaced earlier when they could have replaced him with minimal cost.

[Crusader]

"“I don’t feel like myself,” Hester said. “It’s tough.”" We know how you feel. This does not look & feel like the Ravens team we watched for years. “He has been battling some injuries" AREN'T WE ALL?

[Purple Dawg 96]

Lack of practice and it shows plus I don't think he is comfortable yet in Bmore but he can bust one two or three up the field we just gotta give him some more time! If some of you can give Joe more time to get himself together Devin needs the same thing!

[sami]

having a "tweaked" hamstring wouldn't prevent him from practicing catching punts. From what Ive seen, he looks indecisive and hesitant and not at all confident catching punts and kickoffs. Reminds me of the beginning of softball season and long ball practice for the outfielders.

[omar586]

he's good as gone after the steelers game

[RavenSwag]

Get him outta here! It seems like the Ravens only signed him to a contract to just catch the ball. Its been many times where he had room to run but chose to fair catch. We aren't flipping the field or getting good field position in the return because of it. Hell give me a contract for a week, I'll catch the damn ball and fair catch everytime too.

[Raven1995]

I put a big part of this on the coaches and the FO. Sorry, you don't sign a player just before the beginning of the season to start game one, who wasn't on another team and practicing. No way he was in football shape and you are just asking for pulled muscles and similar issues. They should have signed him mid August so he would have at least been more in game shape, maybe he wouldn't have had these problems or they would have surfaced earlier when they could have replaced him with minimal cost.

They Put their stock in Kaelin Clay and Campanaro. Clay fumbled in one preseason game and was never seen again. Campanaro Looked really shaky and not Confident at all.

[pocket]

Get him outta here! It seems like the Ravens only signed him to a contract to just catch the ball. Its been many times where he had room to run but chose to fair catch. We aren't flipping the field or getting good field position in the return because of it. Hell give me a contract for a week, I'll catch the damn ball and fair catch everytime too.

He's been in the league for how long? He has to catch the ball and run, or choose not to run. Come on..Not buying that.

[edthehead]

This was not worth reading and I didn't, I live in Atlanta he was laughed at down here and they laugh at us for picking him up, The point is this (we like you R.Mink) how long has Hester been returning balls, something as simple as catching is more to do with mental focus. not health unless the injury is in his arms,hands or fingers, Do Not let then pull the wool over our eyes, personal should be held accountable. just watch tape from last year, film will tell the truth

[ellicottraven]

If the headline is true, why is he still on the team? Don't get it.

[The Greek]

there has to be another option than hester. he is afraid to fumble now and he lets every kick bounce past him. wonder if brian mitchell still has some gas left in his tank at 48. is kaelin clay available? i thought he was pretty good last season. keenan reynolds or dixon?

[nj_ravens]

Lack of practice and it shows plus I don't think he is comfortable yet in Bmore but he can bust one two or three up the field we just gotta give him some more time! If some of you can give Joe more time to get himself together Devin needs the same thing!

"If some of you can give Joe more time to get himself together Devin needs the same thing! "

It's not anywhere close to the same situation.

[nj_ravens]

I put a big part of this on the coaches and the FO. Sorry, you don't sign a player just before the beginning of the season to start game one, who wasn't on another team and practicing. No way he was in football shape and you are just asking for pulled muscles and similar issues. They should have signed him mid August so he would have at least been more in game shape, maybe he wouldn't have had these problems or they would have surfaced earlier when they could have replaced him with minimal cost.

They were counting on Clay, Camp, and Reynolds. They didn't work out for various reasons ranging from fumbles to injuries to slow development/position change. Had to sign someone before the start of the season. Why not the GOAT?

Yea, he may be having a bad year, but he is still the best returner ever. Sure, it may not work out, but that doesn't mean it wasn't the right move at the time.

[TheConquerorWorm]

This was not worth reading and I didn't, I live in Atlanta he was laughed at down here and they laugh at us for picking him up, The point is this (we like you R.Mink) how long has Hester been returning balls, something as simple as catching is more to do with mental focus. not health unless the injury is in his arms,hands or fingers, Do Not let then pull the wool over our eyes, personal should be held accountable. just watch tape from last year, film will tell the truth

And people in Minnesota & Miami laughed at us for signing Mike Wallace.

While I will agree that Hester's days are behind him, Clay & Campanaro were even more atrocious which is why the Ravens felt the need to turn to a proven returner. It hasn't worked so far. Is it time to move on? Maybe, but keep in mind that salary is still going to be on the books and you'll have to use more to sign someone else.

So, do you go with the chance that the vet returner gets it going (you don't see what he does in practice) or do you eat up more salary cap space and turn to another unproven player who might not be an improvement?

[law215]

Another bad contract to a guy that at best could help the Ravens for 1 year. You build a roster of 53 and 10 spots on the practice squad yet FO have so little faith in those guys that they sign a 37 year old to a contract worth up to $4M to catch and run. Meanwhile they have no depth at offense line and limited guys at safety.

[Purple Dawg 96]

  2 hours ago, Purple Dawg 96 said:

Lack of practice and it shows plus I don't think he is comfortable yet in Bmore but he can bust one two or three up the field we just gotta give him some more time! If some of you can give Joe more time to get himself together Devin needs the same thing!

"If some of you can give Joe more time to get himself together Devin needs the same thing! "

It's not anywhere close to the same situation.

Why not they both have two injuries!

[Raven1995]

there has to be another option than hester. he is afraid to fumble now and he lets every kick bounce past him. wonder if brian mitchell still has some gas left in his tank at 48. is kaelin clay available? i thought he was pretty good last season. keenan reynolds or dixon?

Kaelin Clay is on Injured Reserve and I don't think he is designated for return. Brian Mitchell, why not He was in Sharknado 3 he can do anything.

[fusuymada]

  1 hour ago, nj_ravens said:

  2 hours ago, Purple Dawg 96 said:

Lack of practice and it shows plus I don't think he is comfortable yet in Bmore but he can bust one two or three up the field we just gotta give him some more time! If some of you can give Joe more time to get himself together Devin needs the same thing!

"If some of you can give Joe more time to get himself together Devin needs the same thing! "

It's not anywhere close to the same situation.

Why not they both have two injuries!

Joe missed a few games last year, Hester hasn't played since 2014. Comparing the twos rehab and injuries is a difficult task. There is really no comparison at all. The problem is, when skilled position players don't play football for two years they have a tendency to start pulling things when they get back on the field because they have been away from being in "football shape" for such a long time. Joe isn't suffering from that because he hasn't missed that much time. Hester has. In addition, you have to consider age and wear and tear as well. Hester is older and as a returner has been hit significantly more and harder than Flacco has. Also, Flacco was involved in training camp, Hester was signed days before the season started.

My opinion when they signed Hester and now is exactly the same. I said at the time they signed him he had been out too long, would be on the injury report constantly and we should have kept Butler, who by the way can catch anything close and can also GET OPEN, something our present receivers are having quite a bit of problem with. When Steve Smith Sr went down, we desperately needed Butler but instead we got an injured Hester who has fumbled more and missed more games than games he has played in. And since our front office has bumped their heads and are just in shambles now, they signed him (and Forsett) before the first game so now we are on the hook for their salaries (and cap space) if we end up cutting Hester if he cant keep playing.

[Purple Hazard]

He needs to take it like a man. Can't make excuses if you are a returner you can't fumble and bring your team in a bad situation. A guy with his skill level shouldn`t muff a punt.

[mrc724]

If the headline is true, why is he still on the team? Don't get it.

I agree, why is still being put out there, another gross signing by the Ravens. Why aren't they bring in guys, for tryouts, we may get a good one. Another fumble by the Raven, flushing another 4 million down the toilet.

[whobilly]

Simple one word solution. RELEASE

[Fastynart]

I said it when they acquired Hester and I will say it again. There is a reason he was available. He is over the hill. It is as bad as the team that gave a washed up Ed Reed a $5 mil contract then cut him after 4 games. The Ravens seem to love these name players whose best days are long gone.

[KidNme]

It's funny how Hester needs more than just pre game warmups to catch a ball but Flacco can go all week without practicing then miss pre game warmups all together in last weeks game. Lots of gum flapping going on at BR.com. It's like a Mcdonalds commercial where you see this nice juicy burger on TV but what you get from the drive thru is something that's dry and looks like it was sat on. SMH

[Maryland]

I don't know... I get that his injuries made him miss practice, but I kind of expect him to have it in his memory how to actually field a punt/kick by now. He's been doing this for 11 years in the NFL + his college years, seems like it should all be muscle memory at this point how to catch a punt.

[The Greek]

I said it when they acquired Hester and I will say it again. There is a reason he was available. He is over the hill. It is as bad as the team that gave a washed up Ed Reed a $5 mil contract then cut him after 4 games. The Ravens seem to love these name players whose best days are long gone.

dont forget about tj whooseyourmama and jason babin

[b93333]

This was easy to predict... question is who made this call?

[slowboater]

Excuses, excuses, excuses. Seriously? This is the best the Ravens can do? A rookie can do what Hester is doing and would come at a smaller price tag.

[slowboater]

It's funny how Hester needs more than just pre game warmups to catch a ball but Flacco can go all week without practicing then miss pre game warmups all together in last weeks game. Lots of gum flapping going on at BR.com. It's like a Mcdonalds commercial where you see this nice juicy burger on TV but what you get from the drive thru is something that's dry and looks like it was sat on. SMH

Nice analogy. Lots of Ravens laughing all the way to the bank.

[TheConquerorWorm]

I said it when they acquired Hester and I will say it again. There is a reason he was available. He is over the hill. It is as bad as the team that gave a washed up Ed Reed a $5 mil contract then cut him after 4 games. The Ravens seem to love these name players whose best days are long gone.

Because sometimes it works and sometimes those players lead you to the Super Bowl like Bryant McKinnie, Matt Birk & Cary Williams. Add in Jim Leonard, Michael McCrary, Daryl Smith, Corey Graham, Bernard Pollard, Jacoby Jones, Chris Canty and of course Steve Smith Sr.