"This is why you don’t play your starters for the preseason, now they need a backup mascot" - NFL fans react to Baltimore Ravens mascot being carted off field during preseason game with serious injury

There's always a lot of debate about whether or not NFL preseason games should happen. It always comes up when a player gets injured during a game that admittedly means nothing at all. Players like Zach Wilson have lost their entire seasons because of an injury during the preseason.It is a great time for young players to earn playing time and for coaches to see what they have, but it carries a lot of risks. Starters are risking losing it all to play in a quarter of a game that doesn't even count.The Baltimore Ravens experienced something similar, as they had an important piece of their roster get carted off during their final preseason game. The Ravens had a tremendous amount of injuries last year, so this is not a good sign.michael phillips@michaelpRTDOh no. This ended with the Ravens mascot being carted off.61Oh no. This ended with the Ravens mascot being carted off. https://t.co/PqspTUHsngThe halftime show, which involved mascots from around the league playing against a youth football team, ended with the Ravens mascot being carted off due to an injury.Sharla McBride@SharlaMcBrideICYMI: The moment the Ravens mascot was tackled by a youth football player during halftime and needed to be carted off the field #preseason38381ICYMI: The moment the Ravens mascot was tackled by a youth football player during halftime and needed to be carted off the field😐 #preseason https://t.co/l5DPVm8IBiNFL fans have reacted to this news with disappointment. However, some couldn't resist seeing the lighter side of the story.Tim Bielik@timbielikThis is why you don’t play your starters for the preseason. Now they need a backup mascot. twitter.com/benstandig/sta…Ben Standig@BenStandigThe Ravens mascot is being carted off. This turned dark.347The Ravens mascot is being carted off. This turned dark. https://t.co/9Zm8aXhsEhThis is why you don’t play your starters for the preseason. Now they need a backup mascot. twitter.com/benstandig/sta…ch85sports@ch85sports@BenStandig Head still on. That's commitment to the gimmick.32@BenStandig Head still on. That's commitment to the gimmick.Jono Barnes@JonoBarnes@ch85sports @BenStandig “John, we really think we can save your life better if you let us take off the head”“No! Without the head, I have no life!”4@ch85sports @BenStandig “John, we really think we can save your life better if you let us take off the head”“No! Without the head, I have no life!”703@UtProsim540@BenStandig Nevermore.291@BenStandig Nevermore.KJ@Likesthehops@BenStandig I hope they can find a 24 hour veterinary clinic11@BenStandig I hope they can find a 24 hour veterinary clinicSTOP THE STREAK!!@HailGangHTTR@BenStandig Cancel the preseason ! We can’t keep having injuries like this 3@BenStandig Cancel the preseason ! We can’t keep having injuries like this 😫N|A@JAYZBUB@BenStandig Preseason for everyone2@BenStandig Preseason for everyoneJon Shepler@jshepler66@SharlaMcBride Come on that man tore his ACL and had to leave the headgear on. I feel bad but can’t stop laughing at him just in that suit wearing the head gear23@SharlaMcBride Come on that man tore his ACL and had to leave the headgear on. I feel bad but can’t stop laughing at him just in that suit wearing the head gearRob Kline@RobKline66@SharlaMcBride That old crow is soft. You'd never see Pittsburgh's Steely McBeam get hurt. He'd just get up and walk it off. Go Steelers!!!6@SharlaMcBride That old crow is soft. You'd never see Pittsburgh's Steely McBeam get hurt. He'd just get up and walk it off. Go Steelers!!! https://t.co/QRIg09QJKDIB THE GAMBLER 🔌@incarceratedbob@SharlaMcBride Why was he playing in the last preseason game ? SIT YOUR STARTERS!!!231@SharlaMcBride Why was he playing in the last preseason game ? SIT YOUR STARTERS!!!It definitely looked like a serious injury, perhaps even a torn ACL which would cost the Ravens mascot the entire 2022-2023 NFL season. Losses like that are difficult to overcome.Should starters play in the NFL preseason?Losing stars to injury during the preseason is unfortunately something all NFL teams are familiar with. Zach Wilson has now lost his entire second season.In 2019, Cam Newton suffered what would be a Lisfranc injury in the preseason and was never the same. In 2016, Tony Romo injured his back in the preseason and never played again. Dallas Cowboys v San Francisco 49ersIn 2015, Jordy Nelson of the Green Bay Packers tore an ACL. In 2013, the Philadelphia Eagles lost wide receiver Jeremy Maclin to an ACL injury.Michael Vick missed 11 games after a preseason injury in 2003. There are countless examples of this, so much so that many wonder whether the preseason is worth it.It's helpful to learn systems and get into the groove, but starters should probably not play. Young players and players trying to earn a spot should play so coaches can see what they have, but starters who are established are too important to risk losing.The NFL did shorten the preseason from four games to three, but key injuries still happened. Eventually, teams may start seriously keeping starters out of the preseason.