Baltimore’s preseason opener didn’t just give the Ravens a comfortable win - it also sharpened one of the roster’s most interesting fights. The backup tackle competition is already looking crowded, and after one game, Carson Vinson, Gerad Lichtenhan, and Diego Pounds all left a mark.
That’s the tricky part for Baltimore: good performances are great news for the depth chart, but they also create a problem when cutdown day arrives. There may be only one or two openings available, and the tackle room suddenly looks like it has more worthy candidates than spots.
Vinson is the clearest name in the mix. The fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft was brought in as a developmental piece, and he has kept showing why the Ravens liked him. He was strong in last year’s preseason, looked good in his seven offensive snaps during the regular season, and picked up right where he left off in the opener.
Lichtenhan made his case too. Against the Philadelphia Eagles, he handled right tackle duties well, stayed on the field for all 76 offensive snaps, and showed strong block recognition.
At 6-foot-8, he brings a ceiling that’s hard to ignore for a backup. The Ravens noticed what he and Vinson did, and head coach Jesse Minter made sure to say so after Monday’s training camp practice.
“[Vinson and Lichtenhan] acquitted themselves well,” Minter said following Monday’s training camp practice. “Overall, those guys handled their own; did a good job in the run game and the pass game. We had some really nice pockets for our quarterbacks; we had some really good movement in the run game.”
That kind of praise matters. If both keep stacking days like that, they can make the decision easy.
Pounds, though, is making this tougher than expected. He didn’t get on the field until the fourth quarter and logged just 15 snaps, but the work he put in still stood out. It’s fair to note that he was facing third- and fourth-team competition, yet the reps still looked solid.
There’s also a reason the Ravens are paying close attention to him. Pounds was one of the more sought-after undrafted free agents Baltimore signed after the draft, and he never allowed a sack in his 2025 season at Ole Miss. Through one preseason game, that pass protection skill is starting to show up again.
For now, Vinson and Lichtenhan appear to have the edge. But the fight between Lichtenhan and Pounds still feels very much alive, and with two preseason games left, that picture could change fast.
In Other News...
Ravens Faith In Tyler Loop Is Facing Real Pressure Now
Tyler Loops early run with the Ravens has already carried the kind of scrutiny that comes with every kicker job in Baltimore, where one miss can quickly turn into a bigger conversation. Late-season misses in 2025 only sharpened the attention on his leg, especially from distance, but the team has kept showing patience as it evaluates whether he can be the answer under pressure.
Jesse Minter has pointed to Loops work in camp as a reason for optimism, and the Ravens have continued to back him without making an immediate change. Still, the lack of long-range consistency has made the situation worth watching, and if the struggles linger, Baltimore may be pushed to test the market and bring in some real competition. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Defense Is Watching One Nnamdi Madubuike Milestone Closely
Nnamdi Madubuikes return has become one of the more closely watched developments of Ravens training camp, and for good reason. The defensive tackle has been working back after neck surgery in April, with his recovery stretching through the summer and into camp before he was recently activated off the PUP list and began individual drills with the defensive coordinator.
Jesse Minter has kept the focus on a gradual ramp-up, with the next step still to come as Baltimore eases Madubuike toward a fuller workload. The timing matters for a defense that is also getting healthier on the back end, with Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins both back on the practice field after injury-related absences. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Mourn One Of The Most Revered Figures In Team History
OJ Brigance was more than a former Ravens player. He was part of the organizations Super Bowl-winning foundation, then became a long-time mentor and leader in player engagement, remaining closely connected to the franchise through years of work and perspective that teammates and staff leaned on. Brigance died this week at age 56 after battling ALS for 19 years, leaving behind a legacy that stretched far beyond his time on the field.
For Baltimore, his influence was as much about how he carried himself as what he accomplished. The Ravens and their leadership paid tribute to him, underscoring the way he shaped the teams culture and the reach of his Brigance Brigade Foundation, which supported ALS patients and their families. In a building that has seen its share of memorable figures, Brigance stood out as one of the most revered. [Read more 🡒]