Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith has four broken ribs, but isn't expected to miss too much time, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
Ravens WR Steve Smith has 4 broken ribs, per report
Smith suffered four broken ribs on Thursday night, but the injury is expected to be “short-term.”
Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports
Chick Hernandez of CSN Baltimore first reported that Smith would be treated as day to day after suffering four broken bones, although Hernandez said that the injured bones were in Smith's back. The injury was first classified as a lower back injury by the Ravens when the receiver collapsed on the field during a Thursday night game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The Ravens released a statement on Saturday after the reports of an injury to Smith, although it didn’t have many specifics.
We want to dispel rumors and stories currently being reported about Steve Smith Sr.'s injury. pic.twitter.com/6MWFhlnQZc
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) October 3, 2015
The hit that injured Smith came from Steelers safety Mike Mitchell, who landed on Smith’s “lifetime hit list” for delivering the blow.
Smith, 36, has already announced that the 2015 season will be his last after 15 seasons in the NFL, although he currently leads the Ravens in all receiving categories with 29 receptions for 373 yards and two touchdowns. Without Torrey Smith, the Ravens have struggled with wide receiver depth and placed Michael Campanaro on injured reserve on Saturday with a back injury.
The Ravens swung a trade with the St. Louis Rams on Saturday for wide receiver Chris Givens, but the team would seriously lack offensive weapons for Joe Flacco if Smith is forced to miss significant time. According to Rapoport, the injury is expected to be "short-term" for Smith due mostly to the fact that the receiver has earned a reputation for toughness and durability.
Smith has missed just nine games since 2005 and hasn’t played in fewer than 14 games in a season since 2004 when he broke his leg in the season opener. Smith is No. 13 all-time in receiving yards with 13,635, No. 15 in receptions with 944 and No. 29 in receiving touchdowns with 75.
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