'I Expected J.K. Dobbins to Practice!' John Harbaugh Reacts to Ravens Star

"That's a J.K. question," Ravens coach John Harbaugh says when asked for more specifics on Dobbins' camp status. "I wish it was a simple answer.''
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If you are Baltimore Ravens fan, you are probably a bit puzzled as to the situation that has J.K. Dobbins in a sort of training camp limbo. And you are not alone.

"I expected J.K. to practice, but it wasn't in the cards," coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday. ... and so now you don't feel so bad about not understanding ... because Harbaugh claims he doesn't understand, either.

At the same time, you do feel bad because of the importance of Dobbins to what the Ravens are trying to do with their new offense. The club recently placed the running back on the physically unable to perform list, but the reasoning remains undisclosed. 

It is worth noting that contrary to some reports, Dobbins is not "away from the team.'' Indeed, at one point during the Wednesday workout he was spotted in conversation with the Ravens higher-ups, team owner Steve Bisciotti and GM Eric DeCosta. And it doesn't get much higher than that.

Being on PUP is of course meant to be injury-related, as minor as it might be. Leaving a head coach claiming to be puzzled while you're on PUP, or in any other state? That's usually contract-related.

"That's a J.K. question," Harbaugh said when asked for more specifics. "I wish it was a simple answer. There's always a lot of things that go into football. There's some complexity to it, and we're working through all of that. J.K.'s working through it. I'm looking forward to when he's out there."

Dobbins sat out part of offseason work while saying that the business side of football is "very hard.'' Again, that's contract talk. Harbaugh, frankly, is wise to avoid that, leaving it to the aforementioned higher-ups.

Said Harbaugh: "He'll be happy when he's out there. He wants to be out there. We both want the same thing."

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Mike Fisher
MIKE FISHER

Mike Fisher - as a newspaper beat writer and columnist and on radio and TV, where he is an Emmy winner - has covered the NFL since 1983. He is the author of two best-selling books on the NFL.