The Ravens have a good idea who will make the team and who won’t at this point of the preseason.
But Thursday’s fourth preseason game will provide one more look for the coaches to evaluate when finalizing their decisions. In addition, a few injuries could also dictate changes to the final roster.
With final cuts coming this Friday, here is the final projection for Baltimore’s 53-man roster.
Stock rising: Omar Brown was an afterthought heading into training camp. After three preseason games where he recorded three fumble recoveries, an interception and an onside kick recovery, Brown has a legitimate chance to make this final roster. He still faces an uphill climb, but it’s not as steep as it once was.
Stock falling: Early in the preseason, Sergio Kindle was thought of as someone who would likely make this team. But after coach John Harbaugh said Kindle was “not a lock” this week, it’s apparent Kindle has some work to do before belonging on the 53-man squad.
QB -- In: (2) Joe Flacco, Tyrod Taylor. Out: Curtis Painter. Analysis: In today’s NFL, you keep three quarterbacks when you have a luxury at the position. As well as Painter has performed this preseason, he would only be kept on the roster to come into a game if major injuries happen to Flacco and Taylor. And if both Flacco and Taylor couldn’t play the next week, Baltimore would likely search for a veteran to plug in to start over Painter. Starting the year with three quarterbacks is unlikely at this point.
RB -- In: (4) Ray Rice, Bernard Pierce, Bobby Rainey, Vonta Leach. Out: Damien Berry, Anthony Allen. Analysis: Berry has one more shot to unseat Rainey as the third running back on the roster. It’ll be tough, however. Rainey’s dangerous as a receiver and has consistently been one of the last players off the field following practices. Berry still has practice squad eligibility, so it wouldn’t hurt to bring him back in that capacity.
WR -- In: (6) Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones, LaQuan Williams, Tandon Doss, Deonte Thompson. (PUP: David Reed; Possible IR situation: Tommy Streeter). Out: Dorian Graham, Logan Payne. Analysis: Thompson has proven he belongs as both a receiver and as a special teams player. The case with Streeter, Baltimore’s sixth round pick, has gotten interesting since recording his first preseason touchdown against Jacksonville. Streeter sprained his left foot and was initially on crutches, though he’s now wearing a protective boot. If Streeter’s foot causes him to miss multiple weeks, he could begin the season on IR, which would keep him and Thompson from having to head to waivers.
TE -- In: (3) Ed Dickson, Dennis Pitta, Billy Bajema. Out: Bruce Figgins, Matt Balasavage. Analysis: Bajema proved he still has a lot left in the tank after seven NFL seasons. He’s shown good hands and can block well. Dickson and Pitta are coming off shoulder and hand injuries, respectively, and should be ready to play in the season opener against Cincinnati.
OL -- In: (8) Michael Oher, Marshal Yanda, Matt Birk, Bobbie Williams, Bryant McKinnie, Kelechi Osemele, Jah Reid, Gino Gradkowski. Out: Tony Wragge, Justin Boren, Ramon Harewood, Jack Cornell, Antoine McClain, Cord Howard. Analysis: The versatility Osemele, Reid and Gradkowski have at playing multiple positions could allow Baltimore to hold on to other players that could play on special teams. Plus, the Ravens carry seven active linemen on game day, meaning any other linemen on the roster won’t be eligible to play anyway. On top of that, Boren still has practice squad eligibility, and Cornell is someone the organization is high on that could also spend the year on the practice squad. But this scenario only works if Reid’s calf injury won’t affect him for the long term this year.
DL -- In: (7) Haloti Ngata, Ma’ake Kemoeatu, Pernell McPhee, Arthur Jones, Terrence Cody, Bryan Hall, DeAngelo Tyson. (IR: Ryan McBean) Out: Ishmaa’ily Kitchen, Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, Terrence Moore. Analysis: There’s a chance Baltimore keeps just six linemen, which would make the last spot between Hall and Tyson. Tyson’s shown a lot of athleticism, highlighted by a sack against Jacksonville. But Hall’s been impressive too, stepping up to be Ngata’s backup after McBean went down with a season-ending fractured dislocated ankle.
LB -- In: (9) Ray Lewis, Jameel McClain, Paul Kruger, Albert McClellan, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Dannell Ellerbe, Courtney Upshaw, Chavis Williams, Sergio Kindle. Out: Nigel Carr, Ricky Brown, Josh Bynes. Analysis: Harbaugh raised eyebrows when he said Kindle was “not a lock” to make the 53-man roster. But you’d have to think it would be tough to release him after the organization spent a considerable amount of time to help his rehab after fracturing his skull in the summer of 2010. The Ravens are also trying to get a special helmet approved for Kindle that would allow him to wear an earpiece to aid the hearing he lost from the injury.
DB -- In: (11) Ed Reed, Bernard Pollard, Lardarius Webb, Cary Williams, Jimmy Smith, Corey Graham, Asa Jackson, Christian Thompson, Danny Gorrer, Chykie Brown, Sean Considine. (IR: Emanuel Cook). Out: Omar Brown, Cyhl Quarles. Analysis: The issue at DB is if Considine will be on IR or not. There’s no indication what his health status is at this time after sustaining two concussions in two weeks. If Considine is cleared, he’s on the team. If he’s IR’ed, then the Ravens will likely look for a veteran strong safety to sign. If they can’t find one, then Omar Brown could find his way onto the 53-man roster.
Special teams -- In: (3) Justin Tucker, Sam Koch, Morgan Cox. Analysis: This unit is already finalized after Billy Cundiff (now with Washington) and Patrick Scales were released on Sunday. Though Cundiff had a great preseason, Tucker, a rookie from Texas, performed better.
Follow Ravens reporter Jason Butt on Twitter: @CBSSportsNFLBAL and @JasonButtCBS.
Ravens Projected Roster: Getting to 53
The Ravens have a good idea who will make the team and who won't at this point of the preseason. But Thursday's fourth preseason game will provide one more look for the coaches to evaluate when finalizing their decisions. In addition, a few injuries could also dictate changes to the final roster.
By
Jason Butt
•
5 min read