Ravens' Steve Smith: Dealing with rare double rupture

Smith (Achilles) suffered a rare double rupture of his right Achilles, and the muscle surrounding his tendon is still significantly atrophied, reports Dan Pompei of Bleacher Report.

Analysis:

The latest report sheds light on Smith's rehab process, which has apparently been even more grueling than expected due to the extreme nature of his torn Achilles. Dr. Robert Anderson, one of the leading orthopedic surgeons for professional athletes, told Smith it was the first time he had ever seen a double Achilles rupture. Already facing an uphill climb, Smith figures to miss most or all of training camp, leaving him on the doubtful side of questionable for the start of the season. He still needs time to build his leg back to strength before he can even think about resuming normal workouts with his teammates. A midseason return in a part-time role seems like a realistic target for the 37-year-old wideout.