Ravens Reportedly to Sign Bobby Rainey to Contract After Kenneth Dixon's Surgery

The Baltimore Ravens are reportedly signing veteran running back Bobby Rainey to replace Kenneth Dixon, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. Dixon underwent season-ending knee surgery Tuesday, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com reported that the Ravens had interest in adding Rainey even before Dixon's injury.

Rainey, 29, rushed for 63 yards in 15 games for the New York Giants last season. He added 20 receptions for 153 yards. Rainey had a previous stint with the Ravens in 2012-13 (he never saw the field in a regular-season game) and has also spent time with the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his career.

As for Dixon, the running back was facing a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. But after tearing his meniscus, Dixon could be out for the season, according to Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun:

"Team officials hoped he just needed the meniscus trimmed, which would have sidelined him in the six-to-eight-week range. However, Dixon wound up needing a full meniscus repair, according to a source. The recovery from that procedure ... usually requires around four or five months, putting Dixon’s season in jeopardy.

"It’s his third knee injury since the Ravens drafted him in the fifth round last year."

Dixon's injury leaves Terrance West and Danny Woodhead as the team's starters at running back. West fills the role of the early-down, between-the-tackles runner, and Woodhead serves as the third-down scatback.

The team also has Buck Allen and Taquan Mizzell on the depth chart, while Lorenzo Taliaferro—who has been converted to a fullback—could see carries as well.