With the Ravens’ season opener simply two months away, the aftershocks of an injury-filled 2021 are nonetheless rippling by way of the crew.
Until there’s readability on which rehabilitating Ravens will probably be cleared for coaching camp later this month, it’s onerous to know simply who could be prepared for Week 1. Quick recoveries and good well being this preseason would depart the Ravens’ 53-man roster with out a lot room for surprises. Rehab setbacks and new accidents would shake issues up once more.
The Ravens’ one-year deal for outdoor linebacker Justin Houston successfully took one open spot, and extra strikes are on the best way. The NFL’s first wave of cuts, due by Aug. 16, will trim rosters from 90 gamers to 85. The second, on Aug. 23, will get them right down to 80. On Aug. 30, three days after the Ravens’ preseason finale, groups should finalize their preliminary 53-man roster. Here’s what the Ravens’ may appear like:
Offense
Quarterback (2): Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley
With Trace McSorley now in Arizona, there’s not a lot sense within the Ravens preserving three quarterbacks on their roster. Considering Jackson’s availability points final 12 months, that could possibly be a nasty factor. Considering the roster squeeze elsewhere, that may be a very good factor.
Running again (4): J.Okay. Dobbins, Gus Edwards, Tyler Badie, Justice Hill
Injury-related uncertainty on the prime of the depth chart may tamp down the intrigue of a contest on the backside. If Dobbins and Edwards, each recovering from season-ending ACL tears, are cleared for the beginning of the season, the Ravens would seemingly make area for less than two extra backs. Badie must be a lock for one spot, and if the sixth-round decide overtakes Mike Davis in camp, the particular groups contributions of a wholesome Hill may drive Davis off the roster. But if Dobbins or Edwards’ rehab drags into September, the Ravens must make area for no less than two and perhaps three different ball carriers.
Wide receiver (4): Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, James Proche II, Tylan Wallace
The prime 4 right here, nevertheless they kind themselves out, are settled — except normal supervisor Eric DeCosta decides to usher in a veteran receiver. Free agent T.Y. Hilton practically signed with the Ravens final 12 months, and Julio Jones, Will Fuller V and Emmanuel Sanders are all searching for houses, too. The crew’s rookie class of undrafted receivers was principally nameless in necessary minicamp, so except there’s a camp sensation — Jaylon Moore? Binjimen Victor? Slade Bolden? — particular groups capacity may dictate whether or not one other spot turns into obtainable.
Tight finish/fullback (5): Mark Andrews, Patrick Ricard, Nick Boyle, Charlie Kolar, Isaiah Likely
There’s not a lot of a roster bubble right here. If everybody stays wholesome — and all eyes will probably be on Boyle after an injury-marred 2020 and 2021 — the Ravens are anticipated to maintain 4 tight ends and one fullback. But if a spot opens up, would DeCosta look to a large receiver or Josh Oliver for passing-game assist?
Offensive deal with (4): Ronnie Stanley, Morgan Moses, Ja’Wuan James, Daniel Faalele
Coach John Harbaugh stated at minicamp that Stanley’s surgically repaired left ankle is “looking great,” excellent news for a Ravens offensive line that wants its star left deal with wholesome. After final season’s damage struggles, although, what number of tackles will Ravens officers must really feel protected this fall? James has his personal damage historical past. Faalele continues to be enjoying his method into form. And if the left guard or middle state of affairs will get bushy, the versatile Patrick Mekari could be wanted inside.
Interior offensive line (6): Patrick Mekari, Tyler Linderbaum, Kevin Zeitler, Ben Cleveland, Tyre Phillips, Ben Powers
Linderbaum and Zeitler are penciled-in starters at middle and proper guard, respectively. At left guard, there’s just a few query marks. The Ravens traded Jermaine Eluemunor close to the tip of a coaching camp battle there in 2019, and it’s not onerous to think about historical past repeating itself this summer season. But who’d be up for grabs? Cleveland is a 2021 third-round decide, and the Ravens loath to half with latest picks. Phillips is a 2020 third-rounder who was promising sufficient to begin final 12 months’s season opener. And Powers began 12 video games in 2021, greater than Cleveland and Phillips’ mixed whole. It’s additionally value maintaining a tally of who’s taking snaps at middle. If Mekari’s working completely as a guard and deal with, the Ravens may preserve Trystan Colon round as Linderbaum’s backup.
Defense
Defensive line (6): Calais Campbell, Michael Pierce, Justin Madubuike, Broderick Washington, Brent Urban, Travis Jones
When the Ravens signed Urban in May, the writing was on the wall for Derek Wolfe. With Wolfe’s launch final month as a part of an damage settlement, the defensive position has a strong two-deep in any respect three spots. Pierce’s no-show at minicamp was worrisome, however Harbaugh indicated that he’s anticipated to return in good well being for coaching camp. If the Ravens want further assist inside, they may preserve Isaiah Mack or Aaron Crawford or signal one other deal with.
Outside linebacker (5): Tyus Bowser, Odafe Oweh, Justin Houston, Daelin Hayes, Vince Biegel
After tearing his Achilles tendon in March, second-round decide David Ojabo received’t be prepared for some time. If he begins the season on the reserve/nonfootball damage checklist, he’d be inactive for no less than the primary six weeks of observe and miss no less than the Ravens’ first eight video games. Houston’s return ought to bolster the place’s depth, particularly after the sudden dying of Jaylon Ferguson, however damage considerations nonetheless abound. If Bowser (Achilles tendon) isn’t anticipated to be prepared by Week 1, or if one other contributor will get banged up within the preseason, the Ravens must do their homework on free brokers like Jason Pierre-Paul and Carlos Dunlap II.
Inside linebacker (4): Patrick Queen, Josh Bynes, Malik Harrison, Kristian Welch
Despite their shortcomings in apparent passing conditions, Queen and Bynes had been strong run defenders of their first 12 months as a beginning duo. If there’s related carryover into this season, the Ravens’ reliance on “box” safeties like Chuck Clark and first-round decide Kyle Hamilton ought to ease considerations in regards to the group’s depth. Harrison and Welch are nicely positioned to carry onto their reserve spots, if solely due to their sizable roles on the Ravens’ particular groups models. Undrafted rookies Diego Fagot (Navy), Josh Ross and Zakoby McClain may problem for a spot, although.
Cornerback (6): Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Brandon Stephens, Kyle Fuller, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Damarion “Pepe” Williams
This group will enter the season trying nothing like final 12 months’s did, particularly if Peters, nonetheless rehabbing a torn ACL, is cleared to play. Stephens will probably be wanted extra at cornerback, the place he performed most frequently in faculty, than at security, the place he performed most frequently as a rookie. Fuller was a key free-agent acquisition. And fourth-round picks Armour-Davis and Williams have impressed all through offseason exercises. Kevon Seymour, who performed closely on each protection and particular groups late final season, is a strong reserve who’ll enter camp on the bubble.
Safety (4): Marcus Williams, Chuck Clark, Kyle Hamilton, Geno Stone
This ought to have considered one of camp’s fiercest roster battles. If the Ravens see Stephens as a part-time security, would they actually preserve 5 full-timers on the place? If not, the fourth and last spot would seemingly come right down to Stone, who took a step ahead in his second 12 months in Baltimore, and Jefferson, who’s circled his profession in his second stint in Baltimore. Stone’s particular groups capacity could possibly be an excessive amount of to beat there. The largest variable is Clark; if he’s traded earlier than the season, Stone and Jefferson would have significantly better roster odds. So would Ar’Darius Washington, who must impress after lacking offseason exercises to rehab a foot damage.
Special groups
Specialists (3): Justin Tucker, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore
Moore stepped in for Morgan Cox final 12 months, and the Ravens’ kicking battery hardly skipped a beat. Sam Koch received’t be any simpler to interchange, however with the retired punter now on workers as a particular groups advisor, Stout may have one of many recreation’s greatest sources on velocity dial.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com