Baltimore Rookie Sergio Kindle In Hospital

By: Stephen Patterson

Baltimore Ravens rookie LB Sergio Kindle has been hospitalized with head injuries after falling down two flights of stairs. The injury reportedly happened on Thursday at a house Kindle was visiting in Austin, Texas. He is currently listed as being in stable condition, but the extent of the injury isn't currently known.

Kindle was the Raven's first pick in the 2010 NFL Draft after having an extremely successful career at the University of Texas. He was one of the key members of a stellar defense that helped take the Longhorns to the BCS Championship game against Alabama. While his team fell to the Crimson Tide after losing starting QB Colt McCoy, Kindle still registered six tackles and two and a half sacks in the title game.

Members of the Ravens medical staff have been in contact with his doctors at University Medical Center Brackenridge. The injury will cause Kindle to miss the beginning of Baltimore's training camp, which the rest of the Ravens' rookies will attend on Monday. It's not known when he will join the team or when he will be released from the hospital by doctors.

The Ravens have the potential to make a deep run in the postseason this season, but health is already becoming an issue for the team. Safety Ed Reed is expected to miss the first the first six weeks of the season after offseason surgery. If Kindle misses any time due to the injury, which would appear unlikely, it could be costly to the team's defense. Kindle was drafted to be groomed as an eventual successor to Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs, and is expected to see a fair amount of playing time this season.