Report: Ravens' Flacco preparing to miss 3-6 weeks with back issue

Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco is preparing to miss three-to-six weeks with a disc issue in his back, sources told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero.

A separate item from ESPN's Adam Schefter indicates Flacco will take a week of rest, and that the team doesn't expect him to be out for a significant amount of time.

Word of the injury, first reported by Jeff Zrebiec of the Baltimore Sun, surfaced on the eve of Ravens training camp, and just one day after news that running back Kenneth Dixon would miss the entire season following knee surgery.

Flacco's initial timeline is far less significant, as missing even the full six weeks could still have him back in time for Week 1. But the Ravens going without their leader for the majority, if not all, of training camp and preseason would certainly be a considerable setback.

Ryan Mallett will be in line for first-team quarterback reps for as long as the veteran starter remains sidelined, pushing Dustin Vaughan into a role as the primary backup.