Are You Ready To Write Off Michael Campanaro?

Michael Campanaro is not off to a good start as a Baltimore Raven.

A Maryland native and fan favorite, Campanaro battled through multiple injuries in his collegiate career at Wake Forest. As a rookie for the Ravens, he was in and out of the lineup. He put up 7 receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown in the regular season and added 4 receptions for 39 yards in the Divisional round of the 2014 Playoffs against the Patriots, catching all 4 passes thrown his way. However, he only recorded receptions in 4 games as the #5 receiver, and missed several games due to injuries.

Now, he has suffered a quad injury which will keep him out until training camp on the first day of OTA's. Will he be able to stay on the field so we can see what he can bring to the team, or will his career succumb to injuries?

As a returner and a small, shifty slot receiver, he has skills which are lacking from the players expected to make up our primary receivers, and we have no set returner like we did in previous years with Jacoby Jones. This would seem to provide ample opportunity for Camparnaro to take those duties over, should he be able to remain healthy.

However, the team has brought in competition for both roles. DeAndre Carter, although less experienced as a returner, now has a prime opportunity to poach Campanaro's roster spot. Another diminutive slot receiver, Carter has been compared recently to Randall Cobb by Steve Smith Sr. It is doubtful the team will have room on the roster for both of them, already needing to cut talented players at other positions.

In addition to Carter, there is competition for the returner role from CB's Asa Jackson and newly signed Cassius Vaughn. They are likely competing for one roster spot at the bottom of the CB depth chart, but either of them making it would lessen the need at returner.

All this leads to the possibility that Michael Campanaro will not have much of a chance to stay a Raven. Barring us being able to put him on injured reserve if he misses the roster, this preseason might be the last time we see him in purple and black.