Nearly nine months after sustaining a serious head injury from a fall down two flights of stairs, Sergio Kindle is hoping to be cleared for contact after a few upcoming doctors visits.
Kindle said he plans to visit a doctor in Michigan and another in Boston over the next few days to evaluate his status.
The former second-round draft pick is crossing his fingers for the best.
“For myself, I’ve very confident that things will turn out fine, but you never know because it was a head injury,” Kindle told BaltimoreRavens.com Tuesday. “The doctors want the best for me, so I’m going in ready for the good and the bad.”
Kindle recently began working out four days a week at the Michael Johnson Performance facility in Dallas, the same place he prepared for the NFL Scouting Combine one year ago.
Now, Kindle is able to participate in all workouts as long as there is no contact.
“I’m doing everything that involves football – lifting, cardio, drills… ‘the whole nine [yards],’” said Kindle. “My balance has actually been great. I haven’t had a problem with it at all.
“Time heals a lot of things, and it definitely helped me.”
Kindle said he has talked with Ravens officials about competing for a roster spot next year, and Ravens Director of Player Personnel Eric DeCosta said he’s seen Kindle’s improvement since the season ended in mid-January.
“Obviously, we had high expectations for him as well and we’re very disappointed how things transpired,” DeCosta on 105.7 The Fan. “I’ll tell you this: He’s made progress. I’ve had the chance to see him actually work out at our facility and he’s getting better.
“And I don’t know what that means for the future. I’m not a doctor, and I can’t speak for our trainers and doctors, but I know Sergio is very hungry. He’s obviously a very talented kid with a lot of ability to play the game of football. And if we can somehow get him out there, that helps our team very much.”
But, Kindle acknowledges there is still a long road back to the gridiron and he’s not bothered by the fact that many draft pundits peg pass rusher as a Ravens need.
And, Kindle’s impending driving under the influence charge – he has a court date in Baltimore in March – was a “poor decision” that he must still overcome.
“I’ve thought about it, but it’s not up to me who they choose,” Kindle said. “It’s just another guy who’s competing with me on the field. I don’t see it as a bad thing. If that happens, I see it as the Ravens just trying to get better and build their team.
“Whatever they decide to do in the draft is fine with me. I’ll be glad to have a chance to compete, just like he’ll have to compete against me.”
