The past 48 hours have Baltimore Ravens leadership holding its collective breath. In addition to the NFL’s COVID-19 outbreak threatening to further alter the schedule, the Ravens suddenly find themselves without their starting signal-caller, reigning MVP Lamar Jackson.

Jackson sat out practice Wednesday and Thursday, officially due to a non-COVID illness and knee injury. Sturdy veteran backup Robert Griffin III took the first-team reps in his place, but any inactivity for Jackson creates a tremendous void as well as a host of questions regarding the Ravens’ outlook.

Still, while Jackson’s two-day absence from practice has put the football world on high alert, the Ravens still expect to have the face of the franchise under center when they face off against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday, according to a report from CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora. While Jackson has only two NFL seasons and change under his belt, the team can still expect him to perform despite the lack of practice during the week.

But that doesn’t eliminate all questions regarding Jackson’s health. For a quarterback that does a large percentage of his damage via his legs, a knee injury could force offensive coordinator Greg Roman to adjust his game plan. The Ravens run primarily out of pistol and shotgun formations, and even a significant knee injury would not change that. However, the option plays and design runs Roman calls for Jackson could decline or completely disappear if Jackson’s knee requires it, fundamentally altering how defenses approach Baltimore.

But even if the Ravens limit the number of option plays and runs for Jackson, they have other forms of misdirection to throw at the Bengals defense. Off standard play-action, Jackson has attempted 36 passes for 326 yards, four touchdowns, and crucially zero interceptions. That play-action game will still work even with compromised mobility for the quarterback.

And when Jackson doesn’t pull back the football, Baltimore’s ground game remains potent. Running backs Mark Ingram II, Gus Edwards, and J.K. Dobbins each have at least 15 rush attempts and average at least 4.4 yards per carry entering Week 5. The Bengals entering Sunday’s matchup with the No. 21 run defense by DVOA, giving the Ravens an area to aggressively attack with their three-back rotation.

Trading season

While the effects of the ongoing pandemic have largely kept NFL teams from looking at players outside of their organization, some will inevitably eventually break from that approach and explore options on the trade market. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta, one of the more aggressive front-office executives in the league, seems as likely as anyone to work the phones to shore up a weakness midseason.

While the Ravens have one of the most talented rosters in football, they could use help in a few areas, most notably along the offensive line. While Ronnie Stanley and Orlando Brown Jr. remain a premier tackle combination, the interior has struggled to perform up to the same standard.

The team can trace at least a portion of that dip to the absence of Marshal Yanda, the decorated long-time starter who retired this past offseason. Rookie Tyre Phillips has taken over Yanda’s vacated spot at right guard but hasn’t held up well in either pass protection or run blocking. Entering Week 5, Phillips leads the team with eight total pressures allowed and two combined quarterback hits and sacks.

Meanwhile, Stanley has already missed time with shoulder and hip issues, the latter of which could present season-long complications. With Yanda no longer in Baltimore, Stanley now ranks as the most irreplaceable member of the team’s offensive line.

Perhaps Phillips rounds into form as the season unfolds and Stanley heals up during the Ravens’ upcoming Week 7 bye. However, DeCosta could hedge in either situation by trading for some depth. In nearby Washington, veteran tackle Ty Nsekhe offers starting-caliber play but has seen just one snap on offense all season. While Washington has not actively shopped Nsekhe, an early Day 3 pick could persuade the team to make a move. Furthermore, Nsekhe’s contract expires next offseason, limiting the cap ramifications on Baltimore’s end during 2021.

As for guard, the Ravens could attempt re-acquiring Alex Lewis, the multi-position offensive linemen they sent to the New York Jets last year. While Lewis currently starts for the Jets, the team has effectively eliminated itself from the playoffs four weeks into the season. Lewis doesn’t figure to play a significant role in New York’s future and general manager Joe Douglas might prefer a draft pick and the chance to look at a younger player to 12 more games from the veteran lineman.

Earl Thomas still out of work

The Ravens’ decision to release safety Earl Thomas just weeks before the start of the 2020 season caught plenty by surprise. The former All-Pro signed a lucrative multiyear deal just one year earlier and had played at a high level during his first season in Baltimore. Even Thomas’ reportedly concerning behavior on and off the field didn’t totally explain the team’s sudden decision to part ways.

But while much remains unclear about what led to Thomas’ unceremonious departure, the rest of the NFL has effectively co-signed the move. The veteran defensive back has drawn limited interest since his release with both the Cowboys and Houston Texans ultimately pulling away after considering adding him. According to some accounts, the Texans players nearly revolted when learning head coach and general manager Bill O’Brien had contacted Thomas’ camp. That pursuit contributed to O’Brien’s ouster earlier this week.

Thomas probably has not played his last snap on an NFL field, but the market’s lukewarm response to his availability reinforces the Ravens’ thinking. If Thomas poses a serious threat to locker-room stability, the team was justified in letting him go.

Jason B. Hirschhorn
Jason B. Hirschhorn

Jason B. Hirschhorn is an award-winning sports journalist and Pro Football Writers of America member. He has bylines at NFL.com, SB Nation, Sports Illustrated, and other outlets.

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