ExtremeRavens Posted October 1 Posted October 1 It was Week 18 last season and linebacker Jake Hummel and left tackle Joe Noteboom got the nod for the Rams against the Seahawks in Seattle. With the NFC West title wrapped up and a playoff seed secured, Los Angeles rested many of its starters in what ended up being a wild 30-25 overtime loss, but the two veteran reserves performed admirably. Hummel, who filled in for Christian Rozeboom, had eight tackles and allowed just one catch to earn a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 88.5. Noteboom, in for Alaric Jackson, made his fourth start and allowed four pressures and two quarterback hits, per PFF, but no sacks in 46 pass blocking snaps. Now they, along with a handful of other reserves, could get another opportunity to do so, this time for the Ravens on Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium. The circumstances are also far different and much more dire. Baltimore enters its game against the Houston Texans 1-3 and spiraling amid a trio of dispiriting defeats and an outbreak of injuries. Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) and inside linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring) are just two of several starters who are unlikely to be available. Notably, that includes quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring), who is not expected to play this week and will likely be replaced by veteran Cooper Rush. “It’s really like any other week,” Hummel said. “I’m always preparing to play if I have to. I guess this week it’s nice to know the chances of being out there are just higher.” Except it’s not just like any other week. Last year, the Ravens were far and away the healthiest team in the NFL. They led the league in adjusted games lost, according to FTN Fantasy, with a mark of 16.3 games lost. It was the lowest total by any team since 2017, and they were also the third-healthiest team of the past 14 years. Five weeks into the 2025 season, that’s out the window. As Baltimore took the field for practice Wednesday afternoon in Owings Mills, eight players were not participating because of varying degrees of injuries. In addition to Jackson, Smith and Stanley, also missing were cornerbacks Nate Wiggins (elbow), Marlon Humphrey (calf) and Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring), fullback Pat Ricard (calf) and wide receiver Devontez Walker (oblique). In all, a whopping 14 players were listed on the first injury report of the week, including Pro Bowl safety Kyle Hamilton (groin) and Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum (calf), both of whom were limited. Already, the Ravens have lost Pro Bowl defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike (neck) for the season, while veteran defensive tackle Broderick Washington Jr. (knee) will miss at least three more games before being able to come off injured reserve. Coach John Harbaugh has continued to preach a next-man-up mantra, but that also comes with consequences in a salary cap league — particularly when the quarterback and seven other players chew up more than 47% of available cap space. Do all those missing starters present a challenge when putting together a game plan? “Well, it’s a challenge for sure,” Harbaugh said. “But it’s a challenge to put it together every week. It’s a challenge when you have a totally healthy 53. “We’re gonna have a really good game plan. Now, let’s go out and execute it.” “We’re gonna have a really good game plan. Now, let’s go out and execute it," Ravens coach John Harbaugh said of preparing for a game amid a rash of injuries. (Karl Merton Ferron/Staff) But who exactly will help do so? Hummel and Noteboom figure to be two backups who will see a significant increase in their roles against the Texans this week and possibly next week against the Rams before a much-needed bye in Week 7. One way Hummel, the 26-year-old in his fourth year mostly as a special teams ace, will prepare is by upping his cardio on the bike and with extra running to account for the extra workload at linebacker. Noteboom, 30, will lean on the advice Stanley has imparted since training camp. They’re also veterans. Baltimore will need some of its younger, less experienced players to step in, too. If Wiggins and Humphrey are both out, for example, that could mean an increased role for Awuzie and Jaire Alexander but also second-year cornerback T.J. Tampa Jr. and undrafted rookie free agent Keyon Martin along with second-year safety Sanoussi Kane and undrafted rookie free agent safety Reuben Lowery III. Last week, the Ravens elevated defensive linemen C.J. Okoye, who made his first NFL start, and Josh Tupou from the practice squad. They could look to do so again, or possibly consider some combination that could include safety Keondre Jackson or cornerback Marquise Robinson, both rookies. Which perhaps is why on Wednesday many of the young defensive backs were still on the field at the end of practice putting in extra work. “We’re all embracing the opportunity,” Tampa said. “We’re all talking to each other, making sure we’re all on the same page and communicating like they were still here.” It should help facing a Houston team that while led by quarterback C.J. Stroud has regressed offensively since his 2023 rookie season and ranks 29th in points per game (16) and 25th in yards per game (288.8). The hope, too, is that the reps the Ravens’ younger players got throughout the preseason, when most starters did not play, will pay off now. “All the preseason preparation is huge,” Hummel said. “When you get your young guys in in the offseason they do a really good job of that here getting those guys time in the building, learning the defense and learning the fundamentals. They do a really good job of getting all the young guys on the same basic fundamental level of being able to go out and run our base defenses. “From there, it’s just about getting as much experience as possible.” For some, that started in last week’s loss to the Kansas City Chiefs with the Ravens down seven defensive starters and two on offense at one point. Now comes a Texans team that also includes the league’s top defense, allowing a scant 12.8 points per game. Already two games back of the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore also knows it has little margin for error, no matter who it puts on the field. “Do I need to [stress the importance of this game]? No,” Harbaugh said. “I don’t need to, no. I’m sure I have. I’m sure all of us have.” Have a news tip? Contact Brian Wacker at bwacker@baltsun.com, 410-332-6200 and x.com/brianwacker1. View the full article Quote
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