Ravens Insider: Ravens rookie OL Emery Jones Jr. to miss time with shoulder injury

[ExtremeRavens]

Third-round draft pick Emery Jones Jr. was a limited participant on the first day of Ravens rookie minicamp because of a labrum injury in his shoulder. He was seen off to the side, going through individual drills without a helmet.

The offensive tackle out of LSU might be out until training camp in July, coach John Harbaugh said. Jones will not fully practice “in the immediate future,” but the coach did not rule out Jones returning for mandatory minicamp next month.

“I don’t think we’ll push it,” Harbaugh said. “If he can do it, we’ll do it. But I’m not thinking about pushing it.”

Because of the injury, Jones was the only rookie who did not speak with local reporters on Sunday. He was also not made available the night he was drafted. On his phone call with general manager Eric DeCosta before Baltimore picked him, Jones said he would put it all on the line for the “honor” of blocking for two-time NFL Most Valuable Player Lamar Jackson.

Jones, at 6-foot-5 and 315 pounds, is someone the Ravens view as a swing tackle. He played nearly every snap of his college career at right tackle. But there’s an easier path to early playing time in a three-point stance at guard, where scouts saw him practice ahead of the Senior Bowl.

“[We’ll] just get a feel for him once he starts practicing, get a feel for where he can help us,” Harbaugh said after the second day of the draft last weekend. “We think he can play guard and tackle.”

LSU coaches wanted to try Jones more at guard but felt he was too valuable at tackle opposite Will Campbell, the fifth pick by the New England Patriots. In Baltimore, with Patrick Mekari signing with Jacksonville and Josh Jones now in Seattle, Jones could compete with Andrew Voorhees to start at left guard.

DeCosta admitted that he had to sweat out that third round. The Ravens’ draft room was eyeing Jones at No. 91. He didn’t want to trade up but felt the sweat pool on his forehead as other offensive linemen came off the board earlier in the round.

Jones isn’t the only new swing tackle in Baltimore.

On Saturday, the Ravens made official a one-year deal with 29-year-old free agent, Joseph Noteboom. Most of his career has been spent at left tackle, but Noteboom’s resume has a healthy mix of left guard. He’s played four of five positions among the offensive line across seven years with the Los Angeles Rams.

“He’s in Baltimore now, so maybe we get five out of five,” Harbaugh joked. “To get Joseph Noteboom in here — veteran, played, talented guy, played both sides — really to focus probably as a swing tackle as much as anything for us. That’s kind of where we really need that veteran presence, as a swing tackle.”

Have a news tip? Contact Sam Cohn at scohn@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/samdcohn.

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