Bilhal Kone’s rookie season with the Baltimore Ravens is over after one quarter of preseason action.
The cornerback, a sixth-round product out of Western Michigan, tore a ligament in his knee against the Indianapolis Colts on Thursday.
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Kone made a play battling a wide receiver near the endzone when he went down, and team doctors immediately called the cart.
He was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game, and head coach John Harbaugh revealed afterwards that the situation in the locker room was ‘very emotional’ after the rookie suffered a torn ACL and MCL.
“He (was) playing well, too. Even in that play, he made a heck of a play,” Harbaugh, who went viral in the locker room last season, said.
“And then even seeing him in the locker room just now was really hard, very hard. But like I told him, the sun will come up tomorrow.
“If the sun doesn’t come up tomorrow, we will have much bigger problems. So, the sun will come up tomorrow, you’ll get this taken care of.
“You’ll be rehabbing. You’re part of our team, and you’ll be back. So, it’s just not on the time that you hope for. I think he’ll see that in due time.”
Footage captures moment Ravens rookie went down
Soon after Kone was carted off the field, gruesome footage surfaced on social media that showed the moment he suffered his season-ending injury.
A video from the stands showed the 23-year-old landing awkwardly after an incomplete pass, and his left leg appeared to be bent in an unnatural position.
While Kone’s setback will be a blow to both the rookie and the Ravens, Baltimore have considerable cornerback depth, and they have also been predicted big success in 2025.
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Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander and Chidobe Awuzie are leaders in the position, and behind them are Jalyn Armour-Davis, T.J. Tampa, and another sixth-round rookie, Robert Longerbeam.
Kone is also close with fellow Ravens draft pick Malaki Starks, who sent a message of support after the Colts game.
“You never want to see it,” the first-round safety said.
“Football is 100% rate of injury, and you never know when it’s going to happen.
“He’s been working really hard to be in his position. His story is amazing and he’s going to bounce back and be stronger than ever, but I know it’s going to take some time, and we just have to be there for him the best way that we can.”
In his final season of college, Kone led Western Michigan with nine passes broken up.
He added 70 tackles and one interception for the Broncos in 2024.
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What will Kone offer the Ravens when he returns?
Following the draft, he told reporters exactly what he intended to bring to Baltimore.
“You’re going to get a dog,” Kone said.
You’re going to a guy who’s willing to play whatever it is that’s about winning, that doesn’t care what it is. He has to lace up.
“You’re going to get that type of player. You’re going to get a dog with a chip on his shoulder.
“You’re going to get a guy who’s been through the longest journey, and you’re going to get a guy who has fought through every type of adversity you can probably think of, a guy who’s seen a lot of different perspectives and is grateful and humble, but at the same time willing to work and ready for that spot at any time.
“That’s the type of guy you’re getting.”
Sadly for Kone, his rookie season has ended before it started. But with a mindset like that, he’s surely going to bounce back stronger and contribute for the Ravens when the time is right.
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