It’s been a week to forget for the Ravens, who fell to the Jaguars 28-27 in yet another fourth quarter collapse on Sunday. With just six games left to go in the regular season, the time to pull things together is now or never. So, as the Ravens prepare for a must-win game against the Denver Broncos this weekend, let’s take a look at some news surrounding the team.
Ravens’ Lamar Jackson leaves practice with quadriceps injury
According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Lamar Jackson was unable to finish practice on Wednesday due to a quadriceps injury. The report initially came from a team spokesperson who informed the media that the quarterback would not be available for his usual post-practice press conference. Losing Jackson for any amount of time would be a difficult blow for a Ravens team that is desperately in need of a bounce back week. Jackson has yet to miss a game this year, but as Hensley notes, this is his third straight week appearing on the injury report. At this point, there is no reason to believe the injury is anything significant, but if he is unable to go on Sunday, Tyler Huntley would get the nod at quarterback after leading Baltimore to a 1-4 record in five starts last year. The article from ESPN goes on to describe how this injury is just the latest in what has been a difficult week for the Ravens superstar. After losing a heartbreaking game to the Jaguars on Sunday, Jackson lashed out at a twitter user who had called him out for his performance, using what Hensley describes as “an anti-gay phrase”. Fortunately, it looks as though Jackson was back at practice on Thursday so hopefully he can put the problems of the past few days behind him before the Ravens take on the Broncos on Sunday.
Who’s Practicing, Who’s Not: Ronnie Stanley, Kyle Hamilton, Isaiah Likely Return to Practice
In other injury news, four key Ravens returned to practice this week. According to Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com, offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley, safety Kyle Hamilton, tight end Isaiah Likely, and running back J.K. Dobbins were all available on Wednesday. Stanley, Hamilton, and Likely all missed last Sunday’s game against the Jaguars and their respective absences played a role in the unfortunate result. That being said, it seems like all three of them have a solid chance to suit up this week. Meanwhile, Dobbins is still on injured reserve after undergoing knee surgery. His appearance at practice means the team has opened up the 21-day practice window for his return. If he is not activated by the end of that period he will be unavailable for the rest of the season, but it is unlikely that the Ravens would have allowed him to practice if they did not believe he would be ready in time for the stretch run of the season. In addition, Marlon Humphrey did not participate on Wednesday but was back on Thursday while tight end Nick Boyle and offensive lineman Daniel Faalele have been unavailable this week due to illness.
Report: Ravens OC Greg Roman has ‘talked with’ Stanford about coaching vacancy
The “Roman-out” portion of the Ravens fan base got some exciting news on Wednesday when a report from The Athletic’s Stewart Mandel was released stating that Greg Roman has been in contact with Stanford about their coaching vacancy. According to Kyle Barber of BaltimoreBeatdown.com, Stanford’s previous head coach, David Shaw, just stepped down after 12 years in the position. The Cardinal finished 11th in the Pac-12 this year, recording just three wins (only one of which was within the conference). The program is in need of a complete overhaul and it seems as though they may believe Roman, who worked as tight ends and offensive tackles coach at the school in 2009 and 2010, is the best man for the job. Despite the fact that Baltimore has been among the league’s best offenses over the past few years, Ravens fans have wanted Roman out the door since the team’s loss to the Titans in the 2019-20 playoffs. Now, it seems as though they may finally get their way in what could be a mutually beneficial move for both sides.
Marcus Peters Confronts His Football Mortality
This next article isn’t necessarily news but I still wanted to shed some light on it because it’s an excellent piece of journalism. The story gives an in-depth look at Marcus Peters and the struggles he has faced as a football player and as a person through the eyes of someone who knows him well, Logan Murdock of The Ringer. Murdock has known Peters since they were kids trying out for the same football team and they have stayed in touch throughout their respective careers in sports. Following a team practice in November, the two had a chance to meet and catch up and the results of their conversation provide some fascinating insight into the life of Peters. As Murdock writes, Peters has “spent a lot of time with his own thoughts. Now he wants to share them.” The story examines a number of different facets of Peters’ life ranging from his childhood to his rehab and journey back from the ACL tear he suffered last season and even to his fiery spirit and emotions on gameday. It’s a fascinating exploration of someone who is both a crucial leader on the team but also the culprit of a great deal of criticism. I highly recommend checking it out, and for any Ravens fans hoping Peters and his knack for interceptions will stick around after this season, the conclusion implies that he hopes to be in Baltimore for a long time.
Chiefs signing Brandon Williams: Former Ravens Pro Bowl DT joining practice squad, per report
Finally, in some news unrelated to the current roster, long-time Raven Brandon Williams signed with the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad this week. According to Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports, Williams had been waiting for the right offer to come after leaving the Ravens in the offseason and joining the 9-2 Chiefs fit the bill. After being selected in the third-round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Williams spent nine seasons in Baltimore, compiling 323 tackles, 33 TFLs, and 6.5 sacks. He was a crucial run-stopping presence in the middle of the defense throughout his time with the team and was often underappreciated for his ability to influence a game. Now, his talents will work towards the cause of one of the Ravens biggest competitors in what is sure to be a thrilling race for the AFC. That being said, this week he could give his former team a boost if he is able to help the Chiefs secure a victory over the Bengals. Regardless of which colors he is donning, it will be good to see Williams back on the field soon.
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.