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Baltimore Ravens running back J.K. Dobbins did not participate in the team’s mandatory minicamp this week, citing concerns over his contract situation.
While Dobbins was present at the team facilities, he opted to refrain from taking the field, leading to speculation about his future with the Ravens.
According to ESPN, Dobbins had already missed voluntary workouts earlier in the offseason and decided to extend his absence to the mandatory minicamp.
In an interview with WJZ Sports, Dobbins acknowledged the challenges of dealing with the business side of football.
“The business side is very hard. It’s very different,” Dobbins expressed. “But it’s part of it. It’s part of the dream, and it’s something I’m blessed with—to deal with the business side of that. You saw with Lamar [Jackson], it’s never just roses and daisies. It can be hard at times, you know, and it’s business, though.”
“It’s part of the dream and it’s something that I’m blessed with, to deal with the business side of that.” @MarkWJZ sat down w/ @Jkdobbins22 in an exclusive interview to talk about dealing w/ the business side of football and his future in Baltimore #Ravens #RavensFlock @wjz pic.twitter.com/uEJ7SJJVob
— WJZ Sports (@WJZ13sports) June 15, 2023
The 24-year old running back, drafted by the Ravens with the 55th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Ohio State, is entering the final year of his rookie contract. He is set to earn $1.39 million in 2022, according to Spotrac.
Despite his injury-marred sophomore season, where he suffered an ACL tear in the preseason and missed the entire year, Dobbins expressed a desire to continue his career with the Ravens.
“The thing I can say is I would love to be a Baltimore Raven for the rest of my career,” Dobbins stated. “I would love to because I love the city, I love the people. It feels like family here. It feels like my second home. And I hope that happens.”
Dobbins had an impressive rookie campaign, rushing for 805 yards and scoring nine touchdowns. However, his second season was plagued by injuries, as he suffered setbacks to his knee that required surgeries.
Despite these challenges, Dobbins made a return to the field in Week 14 of the 2022 season and showcased glimpses of his potential with 520 rushing yards on 92 carries and three total touchdowns.
It remains to be seen how the Ravens will respond to Dobbins’ contract situation and whether they can reach a resolution that satisfies both parties.