ExtremeRavens Posted August 9 Posted August 9 Lamar Jackson won’t play in the Ravens’ preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday night at M&T Bank Stadium. The two-time and reigning MFL Most Valuable Player hasn’t taken a snap in the preseason since 2021, and that trend will likely continue this summer. And while the same is expected for most of Baltimore’s regular starters, there are several players with plenty to play for. Though there are not a lot of starting jobs up for grabs — even the competition for the three offensive line openings seems to have been winnowed down through the first two-plus weeks of training camp — there are key reserve roles to be determined. Practice only tells the coaching staff so much, so the Ravens’ three preseason games figure to go a long way in determining those spots. Here is a look at the 10 players with the most at stake this week: Quarterbacks Devin Leary and Emory Jones With coach John Harbaugh having already declared Josh Johnson as the No. 2 quarterback behind Jackson, and the likelihood that the Ravens keep only two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster because of a new rule that gives teams unlimited elevations from the practice squad, Leary and Jones are, at best, competing for a spot on said squad. So far, neither has looked sharp. Leary, a rookie sixth-round draft pick who had a proclivity for turning the ball over at Kentucky, has continued to demonstrate that trait during training camp. Jones, an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati, has thrown his share of interceptions as well. While Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has been mum on which players will and won’t play, Philadelphia’s secondary isn’t nearly as dangerous as Baltimore’s, though the addition of rookie cornerback Quinyon Mitchell should help. Expect Leary and Jones to each get significant playing time. Running backs Rasheen Ali and Owen Wright As with quarterback, the top two spots on the depth chart at running back are set with four-time Pro Bowl selection Derrick Henry and veteran Justice Hill. With Keaton Mitchell not expected to return until some point during the season after suffering a torn ACL last December, however, the No. 3 role will go to either Ali, a rookie fifth-round pick out of Marshall, or Wright, an undrafted free agent from Monmouth who is in his second year after spending last season on the practice squad. Both have good speed, but Wright has understandably looked the more complete and competent player having been in the system for a year. “Owen has grown so much from last year, coming in as an undrafted free agent,” running backs coach Willie Taggart said. “From that time to the last preseason when he played against the Bucs, that’s when he showed everyone that he can play at this level. … What we’re seeing right now is a young man that is playing with confidence.” Wright had 89 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries in that preseason finale against Tampa Bay last year and figures to play special teams as well. But Ali will get an opportunity in the preseason to show what he can do as well, especially with Henry and Hill unlikely to play much if at all this summer. Former quarterback Malik Cunningham has transitioned to his new role fairly seamlessly. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Wide receiver Malik Cunningham The former quarterback has transitioned to his new role fairly seamlessly. He’s a capable route runner, has the benefit of understanding the offense from the passer’s perspective and has some chemistry with Jackson, his former Louisville teammate. Still, he’s had some concerning drops and will need to perform much better in camp and especially in the preseason to land on the 53-man roster. There’s also a good deal of competition when it comes to the back end of the receiver group. With the top five and possibly six spots largely accounted for between Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Deonte Harty, Tylan Wallace and rookie Devontez Walker, he’s likely battling a few others (Russell Gage, Sean Ryan, Keith Kirkwood, Dayton Wade) for a possible practice squad spot. Offensive linemen Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Josh Jones Last summer, Aumavae-Laulu was given first-team reps at left guard the first two weeks of training camp, then never played a snap during the regular season after John Simpson easily beat him out for the job. With Simpson having moved on in free agency, opportunity presented itself again. But through the first two-plus weeks of this year’s camp, the second-year player has done little to distinguish himself among the competition for two open guard spots, with Andrew Vorhees and Daniel Faalele working almost exclusively with the starters thus far. Similarly, Jones, who arrived via free agency earlier this year and whose resume includes having played every position on the line but center, has seemed like an afterthought. Ben Cleveland’s move to center while Tyler Linderbuam recovers from an injury should present more chances to show what they can do, and it’ll start in earnest against the Eagles. “I think we’ll get a lot of questions answered in this game in terms of where everybody’s at at this time,” Harbaugh said. Defensive end CJ Ravenell Preseason is when players like Ravenell, an undrafted free agent out of Division II Missouri Western who’s a longshot to make the team, can grab the coaches’ attention. A four-time All-Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association selection, the 6-foot-5, 292-pound Ravenell had 14 1/2 career sacks for the Griffons, including three last season. He also had 45 tackles in 2023, 11 of which were for a loss. With the Ravens boasting a talented and experienced front of Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington and Brent Urban, the 24-year-old Ravenell is playing for nothing more than a spot on the practice squad, and the preseason is when he’ll get the opportunity to show what he has. Inside linebacker Josh Ross With All-Pro Roquan Smith and second-year player Trenton Simpson the top two on the Ravens’ depth chart, the versatile Malik Harrison next in line and special teams whiz Chris Board behind him, Ross projects as a bubble player at best when it comes to the 53-man roster. Thus far in training camp, he’s been unremarkable, which is not a great position to be in for a player on the fringe. But with Smith unlikely to play and Simpson probably getting in sparingly, Ross will get his share of snaps. Through his first two years, the Michigan product has appeared in just five games for the Ravens and only on special teams. Outside linebacker David Ojabo Normally, an established starter wouldn’t play much if at all in the preseason. But with Ojabo essentially missing his first two years in the NFL because of injuries after being a second-round pick, he needs at least some reps. Plus, with Odafe Oweh and veteran Kyle Van Noy not likely to play against the Eagles, Malik Hamm on injured reserve, Adisa Isaac just returning from injury and Quincy Roche absent from the past three practices, the Ravens are quite thin at outside linebacker. That means the reps will fall to Ojabo, Tavius Robinson, Joe Evans and probably a good bit to Harrison. Given how little Ojabo has been on the field, it will be important for his progress, at least to an extent, to compete in a game. Preseason opener Eagles at Ravens Friday, 7:30 p.m. TV: ABC Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM View the full article Quote
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