As the preseason progresses, changes are inevitably made when trying to figure out who makes Baltimore's roster.
For instance, the Ravens have discussed whether they should keep two or three quarterbacks on the roster. With the way Joe Flacco and Tyrod Taylor have looked, it may be tough to keep Curtis Painter since there are other roster needs.
During the remainder of the preseason, RapidReports will analyze who's positioning themselves for a spot on the 53-man roster and who still has some work to do. Here is the second installment for Baltimore.
Stock rising: Early this preseason it looked like 2011 fifth round pick CB Chykie Brown was in danger of losing his roster spot. But over the past week, Brown's elevated his game on special teams. He's been running as a first team gunner and should see more time on special teams this season. At this point, Brown has little to worry about.
Stock falling: When training camp opened, TE Davon Drew appeared to lead for the third spot at his position. This is no longer the situation, as a case could be made that undrafted rookie Matt Balasavage is ahead of Drew in terms of contention for a 53-man roster spot. Billy Bajema has separated himself from the other tight ends in terms of who joins Ed Dickson and Dennis Pitta on the roster this season.
QB -- In: (2) Joe Flacco, Tyrod Taylor. Out: Curtis Painter, Chester Stewart. Analysis: It's clear who the top two quarterbacks are on this roster, and that could ultimately leave Painter off the list. Painter's had an OK camp but Baltimore will likely want to use that roster spot for a special teams contributor.
RB -- In: (4) Ray Rice, Bernard Pierce, Bobby Rainey, Vonta Leach. Out: Damien Berry, Anthony Allen. Analysis: Berry's not going down without a fight. He didn't play against Jacksonville until the fourth quarter but finished the game with seven carries for 40 yards. Rainey, to some surprise, split carries with Pierce on the first team beginning in the second quarter against Jacksonville. Rainey's done what he's needed to do to make this team. The writing's on the wall for Allen, who received two offensive snaps and zero carries Thursday night.
WR -- In: (6) Anquan Boldin, Torrey Smith, Jacoby Jones, LaQuan Williams, Tandon Doss, Deonte Thompson. Out: Tommy Streeter, Logan Payne, Dorian Graham, Patrick Williams, Devin Goda. (Possible IR situation: David Reed.) Analysis: Thompson continues to impress on special teams, running back a 63-yard kickoff against Jacksonville. Streeter, though, had his first breakout play of the preseason, hauling in a 33-yard touchdown from Painter late against the Jaguars. Thompson and Payne both entered the ballgame before Streeter, though.
TE -- In: (3) Ed Dickson, Dennis Pitta, Billy Bajema. Out: Matt Balasavage, Davon Drew, Bruce Figgins. Analysis: Entering his eighth NFL season, Bajema has proven he can still contribute. Known for being a tough blocker, Bajema has been a frequent target of Flacco's this preseason. Against Jacksonville, Bajema saw five throws his way. He caught three for 26 yards.
OL -- In: (8) Bryant McKinnie, Bobbie Williams, Matt Birk, Marshal Yanda, Michael Oher, Kelechi Osemele, Jah Reid, Gino Gradkowski. Out: Justin Boren, Tony Wragge, Ramon Harewood, Antoine McClain, Cecil Newton, Cord Howard, Jack Cornell, Addison Lawrence. Analysis: Keeping eight offensive linemen could be risky, but here's how Baltimore pulls it off. Six players can plug in to be a starting five -- McKinnie, Williams, Birk, Yanda, Oher and Osemele. Reid (if healthy) can play guard and tackle, and Gradkowski can play guard and center. Baltimore can place Boren on the practice squad and call him up in case of an injury.
DL -- In: (7) Haloti Ngata, Ma'ake Kemoeatu, Pernell McPhee, Arthur Jones, Terrence Cody, Bryan Hall, DeAngelo Tyson. Out: Ishmaa'ily Kitchen, Nicolas Jean-Baptiste, Terrence Moore. (Possible IR situation: Ryan McBean.) Analysis: With McBean presumably out for the season with a fractured dislocated ankle, Hall has a great chance of making this team as Ngata's backup. Tyson's had some good preseason games of late, including a two-tackle, one-sack performance against Jacksonville.
LB -- In: (9) Ray Lewis, Jameel McClain, Paul Kruger, Albert McClellan, Courtney Upshaw, Brendon Ayanbadejo, Dannell Ellerbe, Sergio Kindle, Chavis Williams. Out: Nigel Carr, Stevie Baggs, Ricky Brown, Josh Bynes, Darryl Blackstock. (PUP situation: Terrell Suggs). Analysis: Williams is valuable on special teams, and Baltimore could use another pass rusher in case of an emergency. When it's all said and done, Williams might be fighting for the last spot on the roster. Ellerbe's play picked up recently, which solidifies his spot on the 53-man roster.
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. Out: Omar Brown, Jordan Mabin, Cyhl Quarles. (IR situation: Emanuel Cook.) Analysis: Chykie Brown has proven too important on special teams as a gunner to release. Though he has an uphill battle to crack to defensive rotation, Chykie Brown's special teams role should be enough to keep him around. The final defensive back spot will be between Considine and Omar Brown. A lot depends on Considine's status following his second concussion. If Considine is forced to go on IR, that could open up a spot for Brown, who has had three fumble recoveries, an interception and an onside kick recovery this preseason.
Special teams -- In: (3) Justin Tucker, Sam Koch, Morgan Cox. Out: Billy Cundiff, Patrick Scales. Analysis: This could be the toughest decision coach John Harbaugh has had to make in his five years in Baltimore. Cundiff hasn't performed poorly to the point he deserves to be released. Tucker's just been better. Tucker's been more accurate and has shown a stronger leg. Such is life in the NFL.
Follow Ravens reporter Jason Butt on Twitter @CBSSportsNFLBAL and @JasonButtCBS.
