Kyle Hamilton has emerged as one of the best defensive players in the NFL over the last two seasons. For the Baltimore Ravens, he has turned into the ideal Swiss Army Knife, wreaking havoc as a safety. However, before a legacy-defining playoffs for Lamar Jackson and the team, Hamilton’s status for Wild Card Weekend is now in question.
What is the current situation for the two-time Pro Bowler?
What Is Kyle Hamilton’s Injury?
It was unclear what happened to Hamilton against the Cleveland Browns in the regular-season finale. During the contest, he logged three tackles and appeared to be fine. However, after the game, it looked like Hamilton might have picked up some kind of ailment as he was limited in practice.
It was confirmed that a knee injury had kept him from participating fully in practice this past Tuesday. However, just a day later, he did practice in full, and it appears that he’s already past the issue.
It’s important to note, however, that this isn’t the first problem Hamilton has endured this year. In Week 10, during a critical matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals, a sprained left ankle forced him to sit out for the entire second half.
While Hamilton returned the following week against the Pittsburgh Steelers, it might be something to keep an eye on as the playoffs progress.
When Will Hamilton Return?
To begin with, the injury didn’t seem like a big deal and wasn’t even caught on camera. And after returning fully on Wednesday following Tuesday’s limited practice, it’s a good sign for Hamilton’s availability.
As a result, he should be in the lineup this weekend, barring some kind of unforeseen setback. Hamilton’s return will be critical against a Pittsburgh team where he may be lined up to shut down deep threat George Pickens.
In the two games against the Steelers, Hamilton averaged nine total tackles and was critical in holding them to just 16 and 17 points, respectively, in the two outings. And with the oddsmakers predicting a 27-17 score, his availability might guarantee at least one part of that equation.
How Has Hamilton Played This Season?
Early in the year, Hamilton was operating in a box/slot role. However, moving to the full-time free safety role that he’s comfortable with in Week 11 allowed him to go back to his dominant ways.
Immediately, Hamilton’s return to the position coincided with a midseason turnaround for the Ravens’ defense. Before the switch, Baltimore had one of the worst passing defenses in the NFL. However, a return by Ar’Darius Washington and the shift for Hamilton righted the way for the team.
As a result, the Ravens ended the year with the eighth-ranked defense in the league according to PFN’s Defense+ metrics. Their late-season turnaround has seen them rank first in points per drive, EPA per dropback, third-down defense, and red-zone defense.
Alongside an already elite defense, Hamilton has shored up any remaining holes for Baltimore, earning a second-straight Pro Bowl selection in the process. He had the best numbers of his career with 107 total tackles, including a career-high 77 solo tackles.