The Ravens’ final roster audition ended Saturday afternoon, and not everyone hit his mark.
In a 30-7 preseason loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Ravens didn’t give general manager Eric DeCosta much to savor. There were bad turnovers, blown tackles, missed blocks and a couple of unfortunate injuries.
Now comes the hard part for team officials: finalizing a 53-man roster by Tuesday’s 4 p.m. cut-down deadline. The Ravens should enter their Week 1 showdown against the Kansas City Chiefs in relatively good health, with a few notable exceptions: Running back Keaton Mitchell (knee) is expected to start the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list, which wouldn’t count against the active roster, and cornerback Arthur Maulet will likely be placed on injured reserve as he recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery, sidelining him until at least Week 5 and opening another spot.
Who will seize the team’s last few open jobs? Here’s a look at how the Ravens could set their initial roster.
Offense (25)
Quarterback (2): Lamar Jackson, Josh Johnson
Johnson’s accuracy Saturday wasn’t great early, but he finished 5-for-7 for 71 yards and a touchdown. After his 11-for-11 showing against the Atlanta Falcons, the Ravens’ backup-quarterback situation is at least on steadier ground. But it’s still shaky.
Rookie Devin Leary, meanwhile, all but put to bed any notion that he might be claimed if the Ravens place him on waivers. The sixth-round pick went 6-for-13 for 34 yards and threw two bad interceptions, finishing the preseason 15-for-28 for 95 yards and the two picks. He needs a year on the practice squad. Under the NFL’s new emergency-quarterback rule, which allows for unlimited practice squad promotions, Leary could still be involved on game day anyway.
Running back (3): Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Rasheen Ali
Henry didn’t play a single snap during the preseason. Neither did Hill. The problem for the Ravens is that Ali got just 22, all coming in their preseason opener. The fifth-round pick missed their final two games after suffering what the team called a stinger against the Philadelphia Eagles. With Owen Wright suffering a broken foot Saturday and Mitchell’s return timetable unclear, DeCosta could sign a more proven veteran as the team’s RB3.
The Ravens could place Wright on IR to start the season, but his low profile — and the fact that only eight players with IR designations can return in the regular season — could relegate him to waivers and a practice squad reunion.
Wide receiver (6): Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Nelson Agholor, Devontez Walker, Tylan Wallace, Deonte Harty
Wallace, who entered camp on the bubble, was the picture of efficiency in the preseason. According to TruMedia, he ran 19 routes, earned four targets and had four catches for 105 yards and a touchdown. As of Saturday afternoon, his 5.53 yards per route run ranked No. 1 among all players with at least four catches this preseason.
Walker, meanwhile, had a quiet three games: 23 routes run, three targets and one catch for 4 yards. The fourth-round pick has been limited by a rib injury this month, but it’s unclear whether he’ll have an early-season role.
Harty finished the preseason averaging 21.3 yards per kickoff return on three attempts, far behind the injured Wright (30.3 yards). But the Baltimore native’s speed and punt return ability (9.7 yards per return on three punts) should be enough to hold off challenges from Anthony Miller and Dayton Wade. Free-agent signing Russell Gage, limited in recent weeks by injury, played in just the preseason opener and figures to be a strong practice squad candidate.
Tight end/fullback (4): Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard
No uncertainty here. Coach John Harbaugh said after Saturday’s game that Andrews, who hasn’t practiced since his Aug. 14 car accident, is expected to be ready for the season opener. Kolar had three catches for 20 yards in the preseason, but questions remain about his viability as an in-line blocker.
Offensive tackle (4): Ronnie Stanley, Roger Rosengarten, Patrick Mekari, Josh Jones
Stanley made it through the month healthy, though the Ravens helped by holding him out of the preseason. Jones’ blown block in the second quarter, leading to the Packers’ scoop-and-score touchdown, marred an otherwise decent preseason.
At right tackle, meanwhile, the starting battle remains too close to call. Rosengarten was solid for his third straight game — and second straight start — while Mekari didn’t play a snap Saturday, an honor typically afforded to starters.
Undrafted rookie Julian Pearl, who lined up at left tackle throughout the preseason, has good size but could benefit from a year on the practice squad.
Interior offensive line (6): Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Ben Cleveland, Nick Samac, Sala Aumavae-Laulu
With Linderbaum (neck) expected to be available for Week 1, and Vorhees and Faalele starting every game this preseason, the Ravens’ season-opening interior is all but locked in. Whether the trio can manufacture more of a push in the run game is another matter.
Samac’s lower-body injury, which had the center carted off the field Saturday, casts uncertainty on the roster bubble. If the seventh-round pick is out for long, the Ravens could place him on IR on Tuesday. If he’s expected to be ready for Week 1, they could waive Aumavae-Laulu. The 2023 sixth-round pick had an uneven camp and preseason, including a holding penalty Saturday, but has experience at guard and tackle. Guard Tashawn Manning, who spent his rookie season on the practice squad, could also get a serious look as the potential 10th lineman.
Defense (25)
Defensive line (5): Justin Madubuike, Michael Pierce, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Brent Urban
No uncertainty here, either. The Ravens need more from Washington inside, but this is a talented and durable group. Josh Tupou, who started 16 games over the past three seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, is the kind of veteran run stuffer every team needs on its practice squad. Undrafted rookie C.J. Ravenell could be an intriguing developmental piece there, too.
Outside linebacker (5): Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, David Ojabo, Adisa Isaac
Ojabo’s recent emergence might have been the most important development of camp, bolstering a group without a lot of proven pass rush juice. He had another quarterback hit Saturday after shedding a Packers tight end easily.
Isaac’s new soft-tissue injury, which he suffered against Atlanta and which sidelined him Saturday, is an interesting variable. Harbaugh indicated Tuesday that the leg issue wouldn’t sideline Isaac for as long as his hamstring injuries did this summer. But, if the Ravens don’t feel comfortable rushing the third-round pick back to action, they could place him on IR.
Joe Evans played 159 snaps total in the preseason, fifth most on the team, according to TruMedia, but looked like he’s at least a year away from contributing in the regular season.
Inside linebacker (4): Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Malik Harrison, Chris Board
If the Ravens do indeed need help at outside linebacker, Harrison can step in comfortably. He showcased his versatility in the preseason, lining up as an edge defender and off-ball linebacker. Board’s an important special teams contributor with significant defensive experience.
Simpson’s preseason wasn’t perfect, but he showed a playmaking streak throughout, including an interception Saturday. He looks more than ready to start next to Smith.
Cornerback (6): Marlon Humphrey, Brandon Stephens, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Nate Wiggins, T.J. Tampa, Damarion “Pepe” Williams
Williams didn’t make a compelling case for a roster spot Saturday, giving up a touchdown in coverage, missing tackles in the open field and struggling in the box as a run defender. But he’s a versatile piece, capable of lining up in the slot, out wide and at safety. He also saw regular action on special teams as a rookie in 2022, even if he’s not a workhorse there.
Armour-Davis and Wiggins had strong preseasons, and at least one could have a rotational role in the secondary early in the season. Tampa’s NFL debut, meanwhile, will likely have to wait. Sidelined in camp while he recovered from sports hernia surgery, the fourth-round pick returned in mid-August but didn’t get a single preseason snap.
Undrafted rookie Bump Cooper Jr. impressed in camp and the preseason and should earn a practice squad invitation. Ka’Dar Hollman is a vested veteran with special teams expertise who, if released, wouldn’t be exposed to waivers. He could also be back in Baltimore.
Safety (5): Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Eddie Jackson, Ar’Darius Washington, Beau Brade
The Ravens didn’t need Washington to play Saturday, all but confirming his roster spot. Depending on Maulet’s recovery timetable and coordinator Zach Orr’s defensive strategies, Washington could line up more in the slot than in the traditional safety spots.
Brade flashed as a defender in the preseason, leading the team in tackles each of the past two games, but he could edge seventh-round pick and fellow safety Sanoussi Kane for a roster spot with his special teams ability. The former Maryland standout finished second on the Ravens in snaps there this preseason (39), behind only undrafted rookie inside linebacker Yvandy Rigby (41), according to TruMedia, and had a forced fumble.
Daryl Worley had an unremarkable camp in coverage, but only Rigby and Brade played more special teams snaps in the preseason. As a vested veteran, that could be his ticket back to Baltimore, whether it’s as a practice squad member or an active-roster player.
Special teams (3)
Specialists (3): Justin Tucker, Jordan Stout, Nick Moore
Tucker made both of his field goals in the preseason. Stout averaged 45.8 yards per punt over 12 tries, with one touchback and four dropped inside the 20. Moore kept both operations smooth.
