Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh told reporters Friday that rookie center and first-round draft pick Tyler Linderbaum would be sidelined “probably at least a week” because of a left foot injury he suffered during a practice.
It was then reported on Monday that Linderbaum was dealing with a Lisfranc injury similar to what he played through while featuring for the Iowa Hawkeyes. According to Nick Shook of the NFL’s website, though, Harbaugh disputed that claim while speaking with media members later in the day.
“That’s not true, it’s not true, it’s not a Lisfranc sprain,” Harbaugh explained. “There’s a ligament, it’s not that ligament, it’s a different ligament, so he’s had the Lisfranc before, there’s no separation, there’s no Lisfranc sprain, per se. That’s my understanding, you know I’m not a doctor but I play one in press conferences as you know, but that’s what I was told.”
Harbaugh added: “He’s got a soft-tissue type of a deal, a ligament type of a deal in his foot that is not a serious thing. But we want it to be right and healed, so it’s going to take a little bit of time, but it’s not a Lisfranc.”
Linderbaum was selected 25th overall in this year’s draft and is on track to be Baltimore’s starting center for the Week 1 matchup at the New York Jets. It’s assumed he’ll be a spectator when the Ravens open their preseason against the Tennessee Titans on Thursday evening.
Following Thursday’s contest, Baltimore will play at the Arizona Cardinals on Aug. 21.
