The Baltimore Ravens fear rookie linebacker Teddye Buchanan tore his ACL during Sunday’s shutout of the Cincinnati Bengals, ESPN reported Monday.
Buchanan, 23, was set to undergo more testing to confirm the initial diagnosis.
He fell to the field while covering a punt in the first quarter of Baltimore’s 24-0 road win. He clutched his right knee, walked to the sideline with the support of staff and was carted to the locker room.
Buchanan is the Ravens’ second-leading tackler (93) behind Roquan Smith. He assumed a starting role in Week 2 and was named the NFL’s Defensive Rookie of the Month in October.
The fourth-round draft pick out of Cal recorded five tackles for loss, one forced fumble and 0.5 sacks in 14 games (13 starts).
“It sucks anytime you see your guy go down — somebody you go to war with every day and truly just a good dude,” Smith said postgame Sunday. “It’s giving me chills thinking about it, and just knowing what (Buchanan) stands for, knowing all that he’s gone through. Obviously, it’s an unforgiving business, and we know that. We signed up for that, and it just sucks, but I know it’s a minor setback for him.”
The Ravens (7-7) trail the Steelers by a half-game in the AFC North standings heading into Pittsburgh’s Monday night matchup with the Miami Dolphins.
Baltimore hosts the New England Patriots next Sunday and visits the Green Bay Packers in Week 17 before traveling to Pittsburgh for the season finale.
