Joe Flacco will play Saturday against the Detroit Lions in his first game back since tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee last November.
The Baltimore Ravens quarterback is looking forward to playing, but not getting hit on his surgically-repaired knee.
“I don’t need to get hit, no,” Flacco said after Thursday’s practice, according to Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com. “But if I do, it’s not a bad thing either.”
“I really don’t feel like I need to play in games to get ready to play in Game 1,” Flacco said. “I want to put myself through that whole process. I don’t need to, but I want to. I think I’ll be better for it.”
Flacco said he expects to play about a half on Saturday. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he has confidence that Flacco can take a hit.
“If I wasn’t, he wouldn’t be out there,” Harbaugh said.
So far, Flacco has looked good in training camp, showing no hesitation on his knee.
Harbaugh expects Flacco to be a little rusty when he makes his preseason debut Saturday.
“I’m sure that’s going to be a factor,” Harbaugh said. “But I’d rather have it be in this game than two weeks from now against the Bills.”
The Ravens open the season September 11 at home against the Buffalo Bills.
