Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs has a partial tear in an Achilles tendon, according to an ESPN report, but he says he will be back in action by midseason.

Early reports indicated Suggs would be out for the season, but Suggs told ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols he would return during the 2012 season.

"That's just going to make it so much sweeter when I run out of that tunnel and prove everyone wrong," Suggs said.

One source in the initial report said Suggs was injured playing basketball, but another source couldn't confirm that. Suggs told Nichols he injured himself practicing for a conditioning test.

Suggs, the defensive player of the year in 2011, said he will have surgery next week.

“We are in contact with Terrell. He will see a specialist early next week, and we’ll know more at that time,” the Ravens said in a statement.

According to the team's web site, Suggs will see foot specialist Robert Anderson in North Carolina on Tuesday.

Suggs has been a thorn in the side of the New England Patriots for years, on the field and off. In addition to frequently needling quarterback Tom Brady through the media, he has 17 tackles and three sacks in four games vs. the Patriots in the last three seasons.