Ravens can't afford to lose Alex Collins to injury

While the Baltimore Ravens offense has been the center of attention for the wrong reasons, the team does have one bright spot. Their rushing attack is ranked 10th in the NFL, thanks to the emergence of Alex Collins. This was a player who wasn't in the team’s plans when training camp got started.

The running game was supposed to be a two-headed attack of Kenneth Dixon and Terrence West, until Dixon got suspended. The Ravens then went out and signed Danny Woodhead and Javorius Allen was given another shot. Woodhead would injure his hamstring on the first drive of the season, leaving one spot open. Baltimore decided to call-up Alex Collins from the practice squad after the Seattle Seahawks cut him.

Collins had a few bumps in the road against the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers thanks to his struggles with fumbles. A problem he has had since his college days at Arkansas. Collins however, has been able to pick up the running game and has now taken West's starting role as the feature back. The former 2016 5th-round pick has now become a vital part of the offense, and losing him for any time would be a massive blow.

Collins missed Wednesday's practice with a calf injury, but was able to bounce back and practice fully the following two days. However, a lot of eyebrows were raised when he missed practice. While breathing a sigh of relief a day later, knowing he would be a full go Sunday against the Detroit Lions.

What the Ravens have to hope is his calf injury does not pop up and become something to monitor and that lingers. This is the worst possible time for Collins to develop any sort of injury, and this is the Ravens we are talking about. They have been the bearer of bad news when it comes to the injury department, and Collins can't be added to that never ending list.