Sergio Kindle has a fractured skull, out for training camp

WESTMINSTER, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens rookie outside linebacker Sergio Kindle is out for the entire training camp with a fractured skull suffered during a fall last week in Austin, Texas.

He remains in the hospital at University Medical Center Brackenridge in stable condition.

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said that Kindle was visiting a friend's house and spent the night, but took a wrong turn in the dark and fell down some stairs.

“I was really disappointed about that. It was tough for him,”  Harbaugh said today as players reported to camp at McDaniel College. ”We first found out about it on Friday that he had the accident on the steps the night before. It didn’t sound like it was too serious, and then it sounded like it was serious.

"They held him back because he was showing some signs of a concussion and things like that. He’s not in any trouble, but he’s in the hospital for a reason. I think he has a fractured skull and a little bit of swelling.”

Kindle is expected to at least be sidelined for the first game against the New York Jets, if not longer.

He'll likely be placed on the non-football injury list.

Jarret Johnson is entrenched as the starter at outside linebacker.

The Ravens are going to be very cautious with the unsigned second-round draft pick from the University of Texas.

“He’s not going to be able to travel for a few weeks at least, so we won’t be seeing him during training camp at all,” Harbaugh noted. ”We just have to play it by ear and see how it develops. I know one thing, we’re going to be very careful with that. You’re talking about a head injury and playing football. That’s not something we want to mess with. From a football standpoint, we’ll move on with the guys we’ve got.

“It’s like any injury. If a guy gets hurt, you move on to the next guy, so we’ll be preparing without Sergio. You’re putting your team together as if he’s not out there, and that’s the same as with any injured player. Then if at some point in time, if he can come back and play, that will be a great bonus for us. He’ll have a lot of catching up to do at that point."

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