The Ravens may need some depth points at huge receiver.
During Baltimore’s 23-10 preseason-opening victory over the Tennessee Titans Thursday evening, Tylan Wallace suffered a knee sprain whereas coach John Harbaugh mentioned James Proche II has a delicate tissue harm that would maintain him out for per week or two.
With 5:10 to go within the first quarter, Wallace obtained the handoff on an end-around earlier than getting tackled for a 4-yard loss by Titans exterior linebacker Rashad Weaver. Wallace was evaluated contained in the crew’s medical tent earlier than heading into the locker room and didn’t return.
Proche, however, didn’t seem within the recreation.
Wallace, a 2021 fourth-round decide, has a historical past of knee accidents as he suffered a torn ACL in October 2019, forcing him to overlook the ultimate 5 video games of his junior season at Oklahoma State.
Wallace appeared in 17 video games final season, together with one begin, and had two catches for 23 yards. He performed totally on particular groups, recording 278 snaps on that unit in contrast with 84 snaps on offense. He’s competing for snaps at huge receiver behind Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay and Proche, all of whom didn’t play Thursday because the Ravens sat most of their starters.
Proche, a 2020 sixth-round decide, caught 16 passes for 202 yards final season. He’s obtained praised from receivers coach Tee Martin, who mentioned the fourth-year participant is having a greater coaching camp than final summer season.
“I think he’s doing even better this year, because he’s taken the next step,” Martin mentioned. “He played a little bit more in games last year, and he understands the opportunity in front of him. So, he’s attacking it every day. He’s asking a lot of great questions, he’s playing three positions for us and playing lights out.”
The Ravens’ receivers have handled their share of accidents thus far throughout coaching camp. Duvernay was sidelined for per week with a thigh harm he suffered throughout the crew’s stadium observe final month, whereas Bateman missed two days with a delicate tissue harm. Meanwhile, undrafted free brokers Slade Bolden and Bailey Gaither have been seen leaving observe early this week and didn’t play in opposition to the Titans.
With accidents to Wallace and Proche, receivers like Shemar Bridges, who had 4 catches for 62 yards and a landing Thursday, Jaylon Moore (two catches for 15 yards), Makai Polk (six catches for 63 yards) and Binjimen Victor (4 catches for 30 yards) have a possibility to make a case for themselves. Still, it appears probably the Ravens will go into the free-agent market and add a veteran wideout.
Bowser taking restoration course of ‘day-by-day’
Ravens exterior linebacker Tyus Bowser, who’s recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, mentioned Thursday that he’s taking his restoration course of “day-by-day.” When requested about his possibilities of enjoying within the regular-season opener in opposition to the New York Jets on Sept. 11, Bowser mentioned “whenever I’m ready, I’m ready.”
Bowser was one of many Ravens’ high defensive gamers in 2021, registering 56 tackles, seven sacks and 15 quarterback hits earlier than injuring his Achilles within the season finale in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
32 gamers sit
Thirty-two gamers sat out Thursday evening as Harbaugh sidelined all of his offensive starters, in addition to exterior linebacker Justin Houston, defensive deal with Calais Campbell, safeties Marcus Williams and Chuck Clark and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Kyle Fuller and rookie Jalyn Armour-Davis.
Second-year exterior linebacker Odafe Oweh performed one snap within the first quarter earlier than taking his shoulder pads off and watching the remainder of the sport from the sideline. Defensive deal with Michael Pierce additionally performed in a few drives throughout the first quarter.
Omar whistle returns
It seems the Ravens will proceed utilizing the Omar whistle throughout their pregame introductions. Before the crew took the sector Thursday evening, the whistling of “The Farmer in the Dell” by Omar Little from “The Wire” performed all through the stadium. Last season, the Ravens performed the whistle as a tribute to the late actor Michael Ok. Williams, who performed the scarred, shotgun-toting, stickup man within the hit HBO present.
The whistle was anticipated to be a one-night tribute till it went viral on social media and the crew determined to maintain it transferring ahead.
Omar’s whistle just lately discovered its solution to Camden Yards, as Orioles nearer Félix Bautista used it to boost his introduction to the mound. Even although Bautista mentioned he doesn’t know what “The Wire” is, he preferred the thought of the observe signifying intimidation for opposing hitters.
Tribute for late Ravens
Before the nationwide anthem, the Ravens held a second of silence to honor former gamers Jaylon Ferguson and Tony Siragusa, who died in June.
Ferguson, 26, was coming into his fourth season in Baltimore after being picked within the third spherical of the 2019 draft. He died from the mixed results of fentanyl and cocaine, the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner mentioned after the skin linebacker was discovered unresponsive in a North Baltimore house. Siragusa, who died at 55, spent 5 of his 12-year NFL profession with the Ravens and helped lead the crew to its first Super Bowl title in franchise historical past.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com