Baltimore Ravens pushing LB Paul Kruger to replace injured Terrell Suggs – NFL News
Baltimore Ravens’ linebacker Paul Kruger is wary of the projections of him replacing veteran LB Terrell Suggs, who is out of the side with a torn Achilles tendon and is expected to miss the entire season.
Paul agrees that the grind of his placement at different positions during the past three years of the pro career has made him a far better player than what he was in his rookie year, but remains cautious about walking in Suggs’ shoes. He said he tends to
keep himself limited to his own qualities.
He said:
"You're talking about the best defensive player in the league. It's pretty much impossible to replace a guy like that. For me, it's about just me being me and being the best player I can be and filling that role."
Although Suggs has hoped to return to action by November this year, it seems to be a remote possibility given that the player’s hopes are not backed by a firm opinion from his doctor or any other expert.
He himself has conceded in between his remarks that his return by the aforementioned deadline might be quite difficult. Another problem with regard to recovery from the tendon injuries is that they are often associated to different risks and setbacks.
In Suggs’ absence Paul has made good strides during offseason programme, and now at training camp, but he simply does not like to be compared with the veteran star. He says he has learnt a lot during the past three years, which was down to his frequent change
of positions.
Paul said:
"It's just been a long road in the sense that I've moved to different positions. My role just wasn't as clear as every player wants it to be. The last three years have been just kind of a grind for me. Maybe a little bit more of that happened last year,
so this year it just seems a lot clearer."
With Terrell almost certain to stay on the sidelines, Kruger’s form remains crucial to the Baltimore Ravens’ victories, irrespective of his reluctance to accept Suggs' role.
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