Baltimore Ravens lose mascot to season-ending ‘drumstick’ injury

BALTIMORE — Once upon a Thursday dreary, Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh pondered, weak and weary.

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The 2022 NFL regular season has not even started yet, and Harbaugh is already looking for a replacement -- for the team’s mascot.

Poe was carted off the field at halftime of the Ravens’ preseason game against the Washington Commanders on Saturday after suffering an apparent knee injury, The Baltimore Sun reported. Harbaugh, in a tongue-in-cheek news conference in which he managed to keep a straight face until the end of his announcement, said that Poe had been placed on season-ending injured reserve.

“Unfortunately, he sustained a serious injury to his drumstick and he will not be able to perform for the rest of the season,” Harbaugh said. “We will find a replacement. We’re going to go to work on that right away. We’re going to turn over every stone, scour everywhere and find his replacement. We’re going to get right into evaluating our options and see where we go next and see if we can find somebody to replace Poe.”

Poe was participating in a friendly game during the halftime show of Saturday’s preseason finale, ESPN reported. Poe, who was playing quarterback, was flushed out of the pocket and caught from behind by a teenage player, who pushed the team’s longtime mascot to the ground.

Poe was one of several mascots to compete against an Amateur Athletic Union team from Baltimore, The Sun reported. The Baltimore Orioles’ mascot also made an appearance and caught a touchdown pass, according to the newspaper.

Poe’s injury ruffled a few feathers.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson tweeted after the game: “Nooo. Them kids playing blitz.”

Sources close to Poe said that the Ravens could turn to Edgar and Allan, two mascots cut by the team because of salary-cap reasons years ago, ESPN reported, also tongue-in-cheek.

But as far as Poe’s outlook for the 2022 season, it’s simple: “Nevermore.”

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