ExtremeRavens Posted August 12 Posted August 12 The Ravens’ biggest opponent over the next two weeks isn’t the Cowboys or Commanders. It’s bad injury luck. Any potential reward of seeing quarterback Lamar Jackson shake off perceived rust against opposite-colored jerseys is minimal. The injury risk, on the other hand, is glaring. So, as coach John Harbaugh continues to meet with the team’s leadership corps to decide whether Baltimore’s starters will play in the final two preseason games, the real question is: What’s there to really debate? The Ravens are first-hand witnesses of this exact nightmare. Three summers ago, former Baltimore running back J.K. Dobbins tore tore the ACL, LCL and meniscus in his left knee, along with his hamstring, in the preseason finale against Washington. Dobbins’ injury cast a shadow over the team from the onset, and the Ravens, despite starting 8-3, were never able to overcome that significant loss. After Jackson suffered an ankle injury in Week 14, Baltimore limped to an 8-9 finish, tied for last in the AFC North, while tailbacks Devonta Freeman (576) and Latavius Murray (501) barely eclipsed the 500-yard rushing mark. Just last Thursday, rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone suffered a gruesome, season-ending knee injury in the preseason opener against Indianapolis. As Kone was carted off, his teammates, all glued to the field on a knee, were part of a somber scene at M&T Bank Stadium. There’s no good reason Baltimore should risk recreating that image by playing more significant pieces over the next two weeks. The Ravens boast one of the most talented rosters in the league. Jackson is coming off one of the best seasons by any quarterback in NFL history and he’s surrounded by formidable teammates. The hype that follows this team like a magnet is understandably palpable. Why jeopardize everything for a quarter (or less) of meaningless football in August? The romanticized notion that a series or two of live game action will further sharpen already established superstars is laughable. Even Chiefs coach Andy Reid and quarterback Patrick Mahomes jokingly agreed after Mahomes logged three snaps and played just 48 seconds in Kansas City’s preseason opener. If the Ravens decide to follow suit with Jackson, who hasn’t played in a preseason game since 2021, there’s also a trickle-down effect to weigh. Baltimore played five expected starters, including three of its projected five starting offensive linemen, against the Colts. However, it’d need the entire first-team unit, including veteran left tackle Ronnie Stanley (who himself has a concerning injury history), to protect Jackson should the Ravens opt to let the two-time NFL Most Valuable Player suit up in one of their two remaining exhibitions. The Ravens lost rookie cornerback Bilhal Kone for the season after he injured his knee in the preseason opener against the Colts. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) The Ravens already have advanced tools and resources to evaluate players without game risk. In fact, the team’s in-house evaluations feel more paramount than ever. Baltimore’s new grading system, which hyper-analyzes every rep from practice and is projected on screens across the Under Armour Performance Center, allows coaches to measure progress in granular detail. Other contenders have embraced the conservative route. Last summer, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and many other key starters sat out the entire preseason. That decision paid dividends in the long run, with Hurts and the Eagles claiming a dominant victory over the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX. While one could argue that Jackson didn’t look entirely sharp in the Ravens’ joint practice last week with the Colts and that Baltimore has started slow several times in the Jackson era (including 0-2 last season, 3-2 in 2023, 3-3 in 2022 and 2-2 in 2019), all it takes is one awkward cut, one unlucky collision, one meaningless snap to derail an entire season before it actually begins. With nine scheduled training camp practices remaining, the Ravens are already banged up. In addition to Kone, fellow rookie cornerback Robert Longerbeam was recently placed on injured reserve with a serious knee injury. Fourth-year tight end Isaiah Likely (broken foot) and fifth-year safety Ar’Darius Washington (torn Achilles tendon) also remain sidelined. The list doesn’t need to grow. Let the rookies and players on the roster bubble get their exposure and shine against Dallas and Washington. Those handful of series for Jackson and company could easily be replicated in a controlled environment, with the Ravens and Commanders scheduled to participate in a joint practice next Thursday in Ashburn, Virginia. That setting will provide all the competitive reps Jackson and the starters need in a controlled environment, where a whistle can help prevent disaster. The next two preseason games are nothing more than an injury lottery, and the only way to truly win is to not dabble. For Baltimore, the ultimate prize is arriving in Buffalo for Week 1 with every key piece, including Jackson, intact. Have a news tip? Contact Josh Tolentino at jtolentino@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200, x.com/JCTSports and instagram.com/JCTSports. View the full article Quote
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