Michael

Campanaro

A 2014 seventh-rounder, Campanaro simply can’t stay healthy. He’ll enter 2017 with eight career appearances. That is, if he’s not eventually cut loose with an injury settlement.

Staying healthy will be the trick for Campanaro considering he has played in just eight games since being selected in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. “It’s been a little rough, but I’m not the first guy and I won’t be the last guy that had injuries early in their career,” he said. In a deep receiver group, Campanaro will find himself in a dogfight for one of the final spots in camp. He has to stay healthy to have a shot.

Campanaro has been on the shelf for a “couple of weeks.” Coach John Harbaugh said “there will be a time when he gets past this.” A 2014 seventh-rounder, Campanaro has been extremely injury prone, appearing in just eight games because of back and thigh injuries. He’ll probably be on the outside looking in of Baltimore’s crowded receiver corps.

Campanaro was released with an injury settlement in September, but the Ravens were always expected to re-sign him once they were allowed to this week. Campanaro could play Thursday night against the Browns.

Campanaro (calf) went down near the end of camp. Per the Baltimore Sun, the Ravens will try to re-sign him when first eligible in Week 9.

It’s a surprising decision considering Campanaro’s injury history -- he’s been around three years and has never played more than four games -- but also speaks to how the Ravens value him. A skilled slot receiver who averaged 12.6 yards per punt return last year, Campanaro is now owed a $1.797 million salary.

The deal is worth a “maximum” of $2 million. A restricted free agent, Campanaro was tendered at the original-round/$1.797 million level, but the sides have agreed on a compromise. Campanaro’s base money has been lowered but potential max earnings raised. Campanaro is a slot man who helps out on returns. The Ravens have a wide open receiver depth chart behind Mike Wallace.

He suffered the toe sprain at OTAs. Hyped as a sleeper in fantasy circles before the Jeremy Maclin signing, Campanaro is now ticketed for return duties only in Baltimore. Coach John Harbaugh expects Campanaro back for training camp.

Campanaro has flashed when he has been on the field, but those opportunities have been far too limited because of a litany of injuries. With the Ravens desperate for help behind Mike Wallace and Breshad Perriman, Campanaro once again has an opportunity to carve out a role, but he will have to stay healthy.

“Campanaro is one of those quick little guys that can do stuff on the side,” Flacco said. It’s an out-of-the-box suggestion, but the quarterback would seem to have a good idea of the team’s thought process. Campanaro is a 5'9/191 slot receiver who has struggled to get on the field since being a 2014 seventh-rounder. The Ravens clearly like him since they’ve kept Campanaro around this long as a punt returner and part-time receiver. He has a similar build to 5'8/201 Woodhead and played running back in high school. Buck Allen is the favorite, but he was a 2016 outsider. Campanaro could very easily get increased looks.