OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- Baltimore Ravens linebacker Elvis Dumervil revealed for the first time that he played this season after having surgery to repair a torn Achilles this offseason.
Dumervil had referred to his injury as "the foot area" all offseason and during the season because he didn't want to become a distraction to the team. He has recorded eight tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles in seven games this season.
"The injury I had to deal with and come back from is one of those injuries that it's career-ending for most people," Dumervil told ESPN on Thursday. "I am thrilled that I was able to come back in the time I was able to and that I was able to finish healthier. So, I'm excited for the next offseason, so I can really get good offseason training and get ready for football."
Dumervil set a franchise record with 17 sacks in 2014 and then started having issues with his Achilles. He sat out parts of the 2015 training camp because of soreness in the tendon before gutting it out in the regular season.
Not only did Dumervil play all 16 games that season but he became an every-down player after Terrell Suggs suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in Week 1. Dumervil finished with 48 tackles and six sacks.
"As the season progressed, I stuck with it," Dumervil said. "We had a lot of guys going down, so it was something I had to deal with last year."
After the 2015 season, he learned that his Achilles was 60 percent torn. He underwent surgery in February and faced a decision.
"Some people in my personal corner said maybe you just wait for next year," Dumervil said. "But I knew we had a special team and I wanted to be a part of it. I did everything possible to make it."
After sitting out the first three weeks of the season, Dumervil played two games and realized he lacked his usual explosiveness. He then missed five games before returning again.
In his first game back, Dumervil helped seal a 19-14 win over Cincinnati with a strip sack of Andy Dalton on the Bengals' final drive. He also had four tackles and a sack in a 27-26 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
"[The Achilles] is way better. I can perform," Dumervil said. "I'm happy with the decision I made. Now, I don't have that lingering, 'Is it going to pop or is something going to happen?' It was good move. Now, I can go in the offseason and be healthy. I'm excited about that."
But will Dumervil be working this offseason with the Ravens? Dumervil has Baltimore's fourth-highest salary-cap number ($8.375 million) in 2017, and the Ravens would save $6 million by releasing him.
"I don't worry about those things," Dumervil said. "I know what I can do when I'm healthy. I didn't have real offseason training. It was kind of like camp and preseason types of games for me. I know the business part of it. I dealt with it in Denver. It's not personal. I know I have a lot in the tank, and it was probably a blessing in disguise that I didn't get a lot of mileage this year. I'm excited for next season in making sure that I'm in tip-top shape."
Dumervil's 98 sacks ranks as the third-most among active players since 2006, and his 31 multiple sack games are tied with DeMarcus Ware for the most over that same span.
Does he think abvout whether Sunday's game could be his last with the Ravens?
"Not really," Dumervil said. "I know I'm a really good pass-rusher. Do I want to finish my contract here? Absolutely. But that's not my decision nor is it something I think about. Until it's brought up, I'll be playing here and be excited playing."