Ravens Place WR Ja’Kobi Lane On IR

It was learned yesterday that Lane will undergo surgery on his wrist. A move to injured reserve became likely as a result, and the Ravens will indeed take that route. Head coach Jesse Minter announced on Wednesday (h/t ESPN’s Jamison Hensley) Lane is on IR. Fellow wideout Chris Moore has been promoted to the active roster in a corresponding move.

An absence of at least four games is now in store. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes, though, that Lane should be back around the time he first becomes eligible to return. Even so, missed time in this case will leave Baltimore without a red zone target for the time being. The surgery will obviously delay Lane’s acclimation to the Ravens’ offense as well.

Throughout training camp and the preseason, the USC product drew rave reviews. Expectations were high entering the fall, and Lane began the season third on the receiver depth chart behind Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Flowers aggravated his hamstring on Sunday, and he sat out the second half of Baltimore’s Week 1 victory.

It remains to be seen if Flowers will be able to play against the Saints this week. Especially if that does not happen, Lane’s absence will represent an early test at the WR position for Baltimore. The Ravens have Bateman, Moore, Devontez Walker and fourth-round rookie Elijah Sarratt in place at the receiver spot. Moore was a gameday elevation from the practice squad in Week 1, but his strong showing and Lane’s surgery will lead to a stint on the 53-man roster in his case.

The Ravens were among the teams that moved to players to injured reserve-designated for return during roster cuts. Two of Baltimore’s eight IR activations are already accounted for as a result, and bringing Lane back into the fold will use up another.