Skip to main content

Injuries mar joint practice with 49ers and Ravens

By WTOP Staff

OWINGS MILLS, Md. (AP) — Baltimore Ravens defensive end Kapron Lewis-Moore sustained what appeared to be a season-ending injury Sunday in a hard-hitting joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers.

Lewis-Moore was carted off the field, and afterward Ravens coach John Harbaugh called it “a major injury.”

“Early indications are that it’s his (left) Achilles,” Harbaugh said. “I was really disappointed for a guy who had the ACL last year. It’s going to be tough for him and we’ll rally around him. He’ll be back stronger than ever next year.”

Lewis-Moore missed 2013 after suffering a torn right ACL at the end of his college career at Notre Dame. Baltimore picked him in the sixth round of the 2013 draft, and he was making progress in camp this summer.

The Ravens already lost another defensive end, rookie Brent Urban, earlier in camp with a torn ACL.

“To lose those two guys with all that potential, and they’ve been doing so well in camp is unfortunate,” linebacker Terrell Suggs said.

Baltimore cornerback Asa Jackson was also hurt Sunday. He was helped off the field with what Harbaugh termed “a minor ankle thing” that would keep him out for “some number of days. We’ll see. But it’s not a major deal.”

Jackson also had been playing well in camp while competing for a starting cornerback spot. The Ravens are growing thinner at corner since starter Lardarius Webb is already is out with a back injury.

Two San Francisco players were injured in the practice — guard Adam Snyder and wide receiver Quinton Patton. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said that it’s too early to say about the injuries of either player.

In spite of the injuries, both teams seemed happy with the joint practices, which began Saturday and run through Monday.

The teams lined up at one point for a goal-line drill with live hitting and tackling — but run with just the backups.

“The whole thing is a great test and a great learning experience for us,” San Francisco defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “I’ve done over 20 of these joint practices in my days, and they’re always very good and very beneficial.”

San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis was one of the 49ers who especially enjoyed the trip because he’s from Washington and played his college football at Maryland.

He also didn’t participate in the team’s offseason work because of concerns with his contract, but showed up for training camp and this trip to Baltimore.

“It feels good to be back with the guys,” he said. “It brings back a lot of memories playing in College Park, and it’s definitely been great being back here and seeing some of the family and some of the guys I went to school with.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote