The Ravens may be heading into Sunday with a familiar problem already hanging over the week: injuries that are still very much unresolved.
Receiver Zay Flowers, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and guard John Simpson were out of most of the workweek, though the team did get a wave of injured veterans back on the field for Friday’s final practice. Even so, head coach Jesse Minter made it clear that return-to-play decisions are far from settled heading into Week 2.
That uncertainty extends to All Pro defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike, who is coming back from neck surgery, and starting linebacker Teddy Buchanan, who is working back from ACL surgery. Both were limited for much of the week as they continue their long returns from season-ending injuries. Minter ruled Madubuike out for Week 1 last Friday, and while he was more guarded this time, a full week of practice would still seem like the cleaner path for a player in that situation.
“I feel really good about anybody we have out there - they’ll be ready to play,” Minter said Friday, perhaps ominously.
Minter will coach his first home game in Baltimore on Sunday against the Saints, and he’s stepping into a team that struggled badly at home late in John Harbaugh’s tenure. He’s made no secret of wanting a fast start and a 2-0 record, but he’s also shown a practical streak when it comes to managing injuries and availability.
“Really excited for our fans just to get a chance for the first real home game," Minter said. “It’s our job - we have the control over the product we put on the field, the environment we can help our fans create by playing a certain style of football.”
That “product” is also being shaped by the Ravens’ revamped medical staff, and Minter said the group will spend the next few hours working through the details. Still, the picture he painted suggested Baltimore could be short at least a few important pieces Sunday.
Minter used even fewer veterans in the preseason than Harbaugh typically did, and early in the year he appears willing to take the long view with health matters. That fits the reality of a season where the real measure comes in January, not September. It also makes Sunday morning’s inactive list worth watching closely.
Like Harbaugh, one of his mentors, Minter doesn’t offer much when it comes to specific injury updates, and the official report was still due later Friday afternoon.
Even when a player is active, that doesn’t always mean he’s full speed or fully unleashed. The Ravens already placed rookie starting receiver Ja’Kobi Lane on Injured Reserve this week because of a wrist injury, which means he’ll miss at least the next four games. That could also be the lane depth corner TJ Tampa ends up taking, as the team weighs medical options and roster space.
Minter said Tampa is out for Sunday and that the team will “figure out if they need to do anything,” with his active-roster spot.
Baltimore’s heavy Week 1 run game could also influence the roster math. The Ravens leaned so hard into the ground attack and so much heavy personnel that they may recall veteran tight end Nick Vannett from the practice squad.
Rookie tight end Matthew Hibner could be asked to handle some of the work Lane did in the slot, while the team’s tight ends offer limited help in pass protection beyond "Joker" Durham Smythe. Even with an extra lineman used as often as Baltimore did last week, more support at tight end might be necessary.
Rookie Josh Cuevas played only six snaps in the opener.
If Stanley can’t go, young tackle Carson Vinson could be back in the spotlight. He served as the extra tackle last week and may be needed to start.
“His play style is exactly how we want to play,” Minter said.
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