Terrell Suggs: Realistic Return Date for Ravens Star Is Reportedly Week 9

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs is expected to return from a partially torn Achilles tendon in time for Week 7 when his team takes on the Houston Texans, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

But not so fast.

Mortensen also reports that head coach John Harbaugh will likely add one week to Suggs' recovery time from the date that team doctors determine he's ready to play. Therefore, a more realistic return will be after the Ravens' Week 8 bye, on November 4 at Cleveland in Week 9.

That's exceptional news for Baltimore Ravens fans, because it means Suggs will be in the lineup for both of the team's matchups against the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers late in the season.

Suggs, the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, has not played since last January's AFC Championship Game in New England. He suffered a Achilles injury during the offseason.

The defensive superstar will turn 30 on October 11, but is hardly used to missing regular-season games. 

Suggs played in all 16 regular-season games for Baltimore in each of the past two seasons and has only missed three regular-season games since entering the league in 2003.

The former first-round draft pick out of Arizona State recorded career-highs in tackles, sacks, forced fumbles and interceptions last season with the Ravens.

Suggs finished the year with 70 tackles, 14 sacks, seven forced fumbles and two interceptions to cement himself as the NFL's most dominant force on the defensive side of the ball in 2011. 

Baltimore will be ecstatic to welcome him back this fall. Harbaugh's Suggs-less defense ranks 29th defending the pass and 13th against the run through the first quarter of the year. 

Despite the defensive struggles, the Ravens are 3-1 heading into their Week 5 matchup with the Kansas City Chiefs. 

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