Ja'Wuan James Tears Achilles Again Versus Jets, Out For Season

Ja'Wuan James, Baltimore Ravens — Ja'Wuan James #71 of the Baltimore Ravens takes the field before the game against the Tennessee Titans at M&T Bank Stadium on August 11, 2022 in Baltimore, Maryland. Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

KEY POINTS

Ja'Wuan James tore his Achilles tendon once again
The Ravens will need to scour the free agent market for his replacement
Week 2 will serve as Baltimore's season-opener at home against the Dolphins

Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season was witness to exciting matchups across the league, and it showcased signs of being one of the very best in recent history thanks to teams playing as if it was a do-or-die game for a playoff spot.

One player who will be on the sidelines for the rest of the season though is Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ja'Wuan James.

James was performing his duties as a pass blocker to give time for quarterback Lamar Jackson to let a play develop and fell to the field holding his ankle just as soon as the latter fired a pass against the New York Jets.

The play that knocked Ja’Wuan James out of the game. Not good, especially for a guy who hasn’t played regular-season football in two years. pic.twitter.com/JQ1r722iiO
— Bobby Trosset (@bobbytrosset) September 11, 2022

"[Ja'Wuan] James has a torn Achilles, it's the same one, [but] it's a little bit different of a tear–it's off the bone and it's not the one (in his) mid-tendon," said coach John Harbaugh in the post-game press conference.

"He says he's in a better place than he was last time. He's determined to comeback in time."

This is the second Achilles tear in James' career after suffering the injury with the Denver Broncos last summer while training away from the team facility and was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list on May 7 before being released a week later.

The Tennessee product was already stepping up in the absence of Ronnie Stanley this season after the Ravens decided to continue holding him out for now as he works his way back to game shape.

Patrick Mekari was then propped up as James' replacement for the rest of the game and Ravens fans were happy to see a favorable result as they downed the Jets 24-9 in the latter's home field of MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

James' injury could not have come at a worse time since the organization will be scrambling to find a suitable replacement for him on the free agent market.

The Ravens might consider taking a flyer on veteran names such as Nate Solder and Bryan Bulaga, but they might also look into names such as Oday Aboushi, Najee Touran and journeyman Justin Murray.

Week 2 is going to have a big incentive for Ravens players to perform well as they welcome the Miami Dolphins to M&T Bank Stadium in their season-opener at home on Sunday, September 18.