ExtremeRavens Posted August 26 Posted August 26 The Ravens held their final practice of training camp Monday in Owings Mills. Now, all things point to the regular season and Baltimore’s opener against the two-time defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sept. 5 at Arrowhead Stadium. Players will be off the next three days before resuming practice on Friday, but much will happen between now and then. From an injury standpoint, the Ravens are largely in good shape, which is always the first goal of the preseason. Though All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton and three-time Pro Bowl tight end Mark Andrews did not practice Monday because of undisclosed injuries, coach John Harbaugh said he expects them to be back on the field Friday when the team holds its first regular-season practice in preparation for the “Thursday Night Football” opener in a rematch of last season’s AFC championship game. Baltimore also got more good news with the return of Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, who hadn’t practiced since Aug. 1 because of a neck injury, though he was in a red non-contact jersey. “There’s no serious injuries,” Harbaugh said. “We’re not gonna get into too much talk about the injuries because, why? It’s a competitive disadvantage to get into what your guys’ injuries are.” He did provide a couple of updates, however. Running back Rasheen Ali, who is competing for the third spot behind Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, remains in concussion protocol after suffering a stinger in Baltimore’s preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles and is “iffy,” Harbaugh said, for the Chiefs game. Inside linebacker Josh Ross is also in concussion protocol, Harbaugh said, after getting in a recent car accident. Backup center Nick Samac, meanwhile, was back on the field after suffering what ended up being a sprained ankle in Saturday’s preseason finale against the Packers in Green Bay on Saturday. Ravens training camp, August 26, 2024 | PHOTOS Offensive line starters One of the more notable topics all summer has been who will start for the Ravens at their two guard spots and at right tackle. Harbaugh said Monday that he has decided but declined to name who will start alongside Linderbaum and left tackle Ronnie Stanley. “I’m not going to make any announcements on any starting positions going into the Chiefs game,” he said. “What would be the point? We’ll just go play the game.” If the preseason is any indication, however, Andrew Vorhees will get the nod at left guard, Daniel Faalele at right guard and rookie second-round draft pick Roger Rosengarten or versatile veteran Patrick Mekari at right tackle. Another possibility is that Baltimore could rotate between Rosengarten and Mekari. Late last season, the Ravens rotated their tackles with Stanley and Morgan Moses struggling down the stretch. Harbaugh said rotating again could “definitely be a possibility,” though it is not something Baltimore, or any team, likes to do. The Ravens cut wide receiver Sean Ryan on Monday. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) Roster cuts pending The deadline for the Ravens to trim their roster to 53 players is 4 p.m. Tuesday, but they didn’t wait that long to make at least a few moves. Wide receivers Sean Ryan and Russell Gage, tight ends Mike Rigerman and Riley Sharp, offensive tackle Darrel Simpson, defensive lineman Tramel Walthour and kicker-punter Jack Browning were among those released Monday. “We have a very good idea where we’re at,” Harbaugh said of roster cuts. “There are moving parts.” There are multiple factors in play in those decisions, including players who can contribute on special teams, the roster gymnastics of juggling injuries, and cutting a player only to re-sign him to the roster or practice squad. “We’ve had most of those conversations already,” Harbaugh continued. “We have a plan in place, and then everything is written firmly in chalk.” Remembering Joe D’Alessandris, Jacoby Jones The Ravens are dedicating this season to offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris and former wide receiver and kick returner Jacoby Jones. D’Alessandris, 70, died Sunday after earlier this month being hospitalized with what the team called an acute illness. Jones, 40, died in July from cardiovascular disease. “Those are two people that we’re going to dedicate our season to this year and do everything we can to make them proud of us when they’re watching from where they’re watching,” Harbaugh said. “We appreciate those two great men very much.” Harbaugh added that Stanley and Mekari were among the players who spoke about D’Alessandris during Monday’s team meeting. “His memory is going to be on our minds, and it should be,” Harbaugh said. “It should should motivate us.” View the full article Quote
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