Sunday’s game against the Giants was yet another case of an excellent start for the Ravens followed by an abysmal finish. Sitting at 3-3, Baltimore will have to rebound quickly with a divisional matchup against the Browns set for Sunday afternoon. So, as they get ready for Myles Garrett, Nick Chubb, and co., let’s take a look at some news surrounding the team.
J.K. Dobbins Held Out in Second Half After Knee ‘Tightens Up’
One of the more interesting storylines to emerge from Sunday’s game was the performance of Kenyan Drake, who rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries. According to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com, Drake saw this influx in action because of an injury to J.K. Dobbins. After the game, head coach John Harbaugh said that Dobbins’ knee flared up late in the first half and he had to be pulled from the game. This news is concerning given that Dobbins missed all of last season with a knee injury, but fortunately, it doesn’t seem like he will miss any additional time. That being said, if Drake can replicate even a little bit of what he showed against the Giants, he could force Dobbins off the field. Drake was quick and decisive with the ball in his hands, something Dobbins hasn’t been since his injury, and his ability to break off big runs was one of the main reasons the Ravens entered the fourth quarter with a lead. Regardless of who takes over the lead back duties for the next few weeks, it’s reassuring to know the Ravens finally have some depth in their running back room.
Marlon Humphrey Quotes Einstein After Ravens Late-Game Collapse
For the second straight week, a Ravens player has made headlines with their postgame comments. According to Todd Karpovich of Sports Illustrated, cornerback Marlon Humphrey took to twitter following the Ravens loss to the Giants, posting “Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. -Albert Einstein”. While it’s possible that the tweet was in reference to something going on in his personal life, it seems more than likely that Humphrey was expressing frustration at the Ravens’ continued inability to close games. Harbaugh acknowledged the comment in his weekly press conference but rather than scorning Humphrey, he admitted that something needs to change with respect to the Ravens approach late in games. After choking away a 20-10 advantage over the Giants in the 4th quarter, Harbaugh’s group has now blown leads of 21 points, 17 points, and 10 points in a span of just five weeks. Considering that the Ravens don’t face an opponent that currently has a winning record for the rest of the season, they should be playing with a lead throughout most of their remaining games. Finding a way to close in these matchups will be crucial to turning the season around and clinching a playoff birth.
According to Wyatt Grindley of NFLTradeRumors.com, the Ravens started off the week with a slew of roster moves, including releasing outside linebacker Brandon Copeland, linebacker Jeremiah Attaochu, and wide receiver Slade Bolden and clearing rookie tight end Charlie Kolar to practice. In addition, the team signed linebacker Julian Stanford and outside linebacker Devon Kennard. The two moves that standout among these are the return of Charlie Kolar and the signing of Devon Kennard. Kolar was one of many Ravens fourth-round picks in last May’s NFL Draft, but has yet to appear in a game due to an abdominal injury. His return should aid a somewhat struggling passing attack. Meanwhile, Kennard should provide some much-needed depth at outside linebacker. Throughout his nine-year NFL career, Kennard has shown the ability to get to the passer (26.5 career sacks), drop into coverage (10 career passes defensed), and plug the run (53 career TFLs). This year, he was active in Arizona’s first five games of the season and played at least 25% of defensive snaps in four out of those five before being cut. He could see even more playing time in Baltimore as the Ravens await the return of Tyus Bowser and David Ojabo.
Ravens sign WR DeSean Jackson to practice squad
In last week’s article, I discussed how the Ravens needed to add to their receiver room if they were going to contend this year and on Tuesday they did just that. According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Baltimore has signed veteran wideout DeSean Jackson to the practice squad and it shouldn’t be long before he is elevated to the active roster. Jackson has spent 14 years in the league, compiling over 11,000 receiving yards and 58 receiving touchdowns. His blazing speed and shifty feet have allowed him to compile a highlight reel as good as any player in the league. However, at 35 years old, Jackson’s best days are certainly behind him. While this signing is a step in the right direction, expectations should be tempered until we see what he looks like on game day. Still, Hensley notes that Lamar Jackson has the second lowest completion percentage on passes of more than 20 air yards in the NFL, illustrating the importance of adding a true deep threat. All of Baltimore will be hoping that DeSean Jackson fits that bill and that the Jackson-to-Jackson connection is reminiscent of the Jackson-to-Brown connection of years past. At the very least, this move is a low risk, high reward shot in the dark by the Ravens front office.
Ravens Present Browns Opportunity to Respond to Adversity
When the Ravens take the field on Sunday, they will be facing a Browns team that is reeling. Since beating the Steelers on Thursday Night Football, Cleveland has lost three straight games to the Falcons, Chargers, and Patriots. That being said, according to Pete Smith of Sports Illustrated, Cleveland fans and media members see the matchup as a chance for the team to rebound and get back in the win column. Smith argues that the Browns biggest defensive weakness is in the middle of their defensive line and that they are much better against teams that run outside the tackles. Given that Baltimore’s rushing attack relies heavily on Lamar Jackson, who rarely runs up the gut, the Browns could be well-prepared to slow down the Ravens offense. He also notes that the potential returns of Jadaeveon Clowney and Denzel Ward, who have both been dealing with injuries, have given Cleveland fans a reason for optimism. Still, it’s hard to argue that the Ravens don’t wield the stronger roster on paper, and recent history suggests that Baltimore will have the upper hand on Sunday. Dating back to 2016, the Ravens have won nine of twelve games against the Browns, including five of six at home. If they play their best football, there’s no reason to believe they can’t improve those numbers on Sunday.
Luke Rollfinke is a student at Vanderbilt where he is pursuing a career in sports journalism. A recent graduate from the Friends School of Baltimore, Luke has spent his entire childhood in Charm City and is a devoted Orioles fan. In the past, he has written for SB Nation and has worked closely with Ravens columnist John Eisenberg. From nights at Camden Yards to Sunday afternoons watching NFL Redzone, Luke eats, sleeps, and breathes sports. He is excited to bring his perspective to BSL.