Following Derek Wolfe‘s January hip surgery, the veteran defensive lineman was connected to retirement rumors. Those are not likely to stop. Wolfe revealed Monday he underwent his second hip operation of the year (h/t Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Sun, on Twitter).
The former Super Bowl starter did not play last season, spending the year on IR. He is tied to a fully guaranteed $3.6MM 2022 salary. Wolfe, 32, said he is looking to “live a normal life,” following this surgery. While that goes without saying, the sentiment may move him further from the prospect of playing another NFL season.
Baltimore picked up Wolfe in 2020, after the Denver did not give him a second extension. The ex-Von Miller–DeMarcus Ware sidekick played a key role for the Ravens’ 2020 defense, starting eight games and playing in 14. The team then gave Wolfe a three-year, $12MM deal in March 2021.
Although Wolfe has dealt with injuries for much of his career, 2021 marked the only season in which he missed more than five games. The Ravens began his IR-return period in October but let the three-week window expire, leading the veteran D-lineman back to season-ending IR. Hip trouble, along with a back issue, led to Wolfe’s season-long absence. The Wolfe-Ravens partnership may be nearing an end, with this hip procedure likely a threat to his early-season availability.
The Ravens entered the offseason with few proven defensive linemen on their roster. The team has, however, brought back both Calais Campbell and Michael Pierce. Baltimore also signed Brent Urban, who was with the team from 2015-18. The vets join starter Justin Madubuike, third-year cog Broderick Washington and third-round pick Travis Jones in the team’s primary D-line mix. Nine-year contributor Brandon Williams remains a free agent.