Ed Reed's surgically repaired hip is a serious concern

Baltimore Ravens All-Pro safety Ed Reed had reconstructive hip surgery after the NFL draft. When asked about when he might be able to return to the field, Reed said, "Well, it's a four-to-six month process to getting yourself back to 100 percent, to get yourself in shape to start working out for a season." Reed had the surgery in late April and feels he might be healthy to start the season, but is still unsure of a timetable. "I don't want to come back too early, man, and injure myself again," Reed said. When asked about how he felt right now, Reed said his hip felt 35 percent healthy.

Fantasy Analysis:
There's no denying Reed's importance to the Raven's defense. He's one of the best safeties in the league and arguably one of the best ball-hawk safeties of all time. Reed has already flirted with the idea of retiring, but he will only be 32 years old during the 2010 NFL season. It's difficult to speculate on how effective Baltimore's defense will be without him. Simply as a comparison, when Troy Polamalu was injured and forced to miss part of the 2009 season, the Pittsburgh Steelers really struggled. The Ravens can of course rely on Ray Lewis to lead the defense but with an average pair of cornerbacks, Reed's absence would leave their secondary that much more vulnerable. This is an important development for the Ravens' offensive players as well since if the defense is on the field longer, there's less time and fewer opportunities for Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, and Anquan Boldin to make plays.

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(fftoolbox.com)