The most effective praise Nick Boyle would possibly’ve gotten this offseason is that he doesn’t appear like Nick Boyle anymore. Or not less than not just like the Nick Boyle of current reminiscence.
Stated offensive coordinator Greg Roman: “He appears like a very new man this 12 months. It’s unbelievable what he’s completed, the exhausting work he’s put in.”
And first-year tight ends coach George Godsey: “You may clearly inform, taking a look at him, he’s bodily totally different.”
And coach John Harbaugh: “He does appear like a brand new man.”
The additional the Ravens tight finish will get from the distress of the previous two seasons, the higher. Accidents have restricted Boyle, 29, to simply 5 video games since he underwent what he known as “the worst surgical procedure of my life,” a 2020 knee operation that repaired his meniscus, PCL, MCL and fracture injury. A clean-up process final summer time delayed Boyle’s comeback, and he remained hobbled after returning to motion final season.
On the Ravens’ organized crew actions, nonetheless, his limp is barely noticeable. Any considerations concerning the November 2020 harm that derailed his profession are largely gone, too. Boyle stated Wednesday that he feels “actually, actually good proper now,” and he’s performed prefer it in Owings Mills.
“There’s days the place I don’t really feel pretty much as good, and there’s days the place I really feel like one million bucks,” he stated after Wednesday’s voluntary observe. “And that’s nonetheless sort of working via it at this level. Nevertheless it’s not like wherever close to final 12 months. … I really feel so significantly better and I’m simply able to go. Actually excited to be on the market and collaborating.
“That’s the worst factor — you’re in there [the facility], simply watching out the window like a bit child. Sitting on the market, I’m like, ‘Man, I simply need to go on the market.’ And to have the ability to return on the market and really feel good whereas being out there's a blessing.”
The Ravens’ hope is that a lighter Boyle might be a greater Boyle, a extra out there Boyle. When he emerged because the versatile hammer within the Ravens’ record-breaking speeding assault 4 years in the past, he weighed about 280 kilos. Boyle needed to be sturdy sufficient to scrap with edge rushers on play-action drop-backs and nimble sufficient to tackle linebackers and safeties in house.
With necessary minicamp lower than every week away, Boyle estimated that he weighs about 262 kilos — “however I really feel good, and I’m approach stronger than I used to be.” He needed much less stress on his left knee, so he modified his weight-reduction plan. He dedicated to consuming 4 ready meals a day, with no room for snacking.
“My spouse would prepare dinner stuff and I wouldn’t eat it,” he stated. “She would hate that. She’d be like, ‘I’m simply cooking for our youngsters now,’ they usually’re like 2 [years old and] 1 [year old]. So it was actually, I need to say, satisfying to see that work sort of repay and to proceed it to get again on the sphere the way in which I need to.”
Little about Boyle’s offseason was typical. Anticipating a “change of surroundings,” he reached out to his agent and ended up relocating together with his household to Arizona, not removed from good friend and fellow tight finish Mark Andrews’ dwelling. For 2 months, Boyle labored to rehabilitate “each day,” fueled by the uncertainty of whether or not he’d ever appear like the participant who, in 2019, had commanded a three-year, $18 million contract extension.
He even ended up figuring out with former Pittsburgh Steelers exterior linebacker James Harrison, who was additionally figuring out in Arizona. Boyle didn’t strategy Harrison at first — “It was sort of like, ‘He was a Pittsburgh Steeler. Nobody actually likes him’” — however after a few days collectively, they began speaking and coaching collectively.
“That dude’s tremendous sturdy,” Boyle stated of Harrison, one of many NFL’s elite defenders throughout his taking part in profession. “I really feel like an eighth-grader subsequent to him half the time once I’m on the market.”
Boyle returned to Baltimore higher ready for the pains of the season forward. He recalled how “demoralizing” final season was; his spouse in contrast his emotional journey to a curler coaster’s, the highs of at some point undercut by the lows of one other. Boyle needed to play, at the same time as his banged-up physique (after which the coronavirus) instructed him he wasn’t fairly prepared. After taking part in 32 offensive snaps in his 2022 debut, a Week 10 win over the Chicago Bears, Boyle was restricted to 63 snaps over the following 4 video games.
“Final 12 months, he simply wasn’t the identical man,” Harbaugh stated. “I imply, that harm was a foul harm. Definitely, all of us hoped he’d come again final 12 months and be able to go, however he simply couldn’t do it. After which he did have a setback or two in there alongside the way in which. Now it’s simply all clicked. And he appears like Nick, however I might say he appears a bit quicker and a bit faster than he did earlier than.”
Even with the Ravens’ funding in tight ends and fullbacks this offseason — basic supervisor Eric DeCosta re-signed Professional Bowl choice Patrick Ricard and drafted Isaiah Seemingly and Charlie Kolar within the fourth spherical — there ought to be a spot for a wholesome Boyle on the crew’s 53-man roster this summer time. He’s the very best in-line blocker among the many Ravens’ tight ends, a talent that permits Andrews to line up within the slot, the place the All-Professional is most harmful.
Boyle stated Wednesday that he’s “on path.” He additionally is aware of he nonetheless has to get to the tip of it.
“He feels good,” Godsey stated. “And we’re monitoring that as we go. Mentally, he’s there for the younger guys, however bodily, he feels good. It’s early, like I stated. [When] we put the pads on, we’ll see how that scenario goes after we get there.”
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