OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens cornerback Jimmy Smith was a surprise participant on the second day of mandatory minicamp.
Smith returned to the field Wednesday, just six months after tearing his Achilles. He's been limited to individual drills, but this is a good sign that he'll be able to suit up for training camp.
Welcome back, Jimmy. 😈 pic.twitter.com/dmKUzj6zUJ
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) June 13, 2018
"I don't know if Jimmy is like half-Wolverine, but this dude has healed up in half the time than normal regular human beings with an Achilles," safety Eric Weddle said.
Team officials had previously expressed optimism that Smith would be ready for the season opener.
"He's right on schedule, from what I understand," defensive coordinator Wink Martindale said. "What the schedule is? I don't know."
Before tearing his Achilles on Dec. 3, Smith had been dealing with an Achilles injury for most of the season. In an effort to rest it, he would practice only once or twice a week.
Still, Smith was having what many considered his first Pro Bowl season. Through 11 weeks, he led the league with a 37 passer rating on passes thrown against him, according to Pro Football Focus.
After the season-ending injury, Smith dropped his appeal and accepted a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. He served that while being on injured reserve.