The Baltimore Ravens closed the preseason with a statement, rolling past the Washington Commanders 41-3 in a game that never felt close. Baltimore controlled it from the start and did damage in every phase, with both the offense and defense putting players in position to make a case before cutdown day.
The defense set the tone immediately. Jesse Minter’s group kept crashing the pocket, clogging throwing lanes, and closing on the ball before Washington could settle in.
The Commanders were held to 177 total yards, went 1-for-12 on third down, and failed on both of their fourth-down tries. It was the kind of performance that makes the entire depth chart look deeper than it is.
That defensive dominance also came with roster implications. Broderick Washington was not active for the game, which suggests he has a strong hold on a 53-man spot. With the interior defensive line picture tightening, that may have taken one more opening off the board.
At quarterback, the decision may be getting tougher than expected. The Ravens have not carried three quarterbacks on their initial 53-man roster since 2020, and the assumption entering camp was that Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley would again make it a two-man room.
Joe Fagnano has complicated that thinking. The undrafted rookie was sharp again, finishing 19-of-27 for 162 yards and a touchdown.
He has made this one of the hardest calls of the weekend.
The kicking game, though, did not help Tyler Loop’s case. He missed from 58 yards and 51 yards, leaving the staff without the sort of confidence boost it probably wanted heading into the regular season. His inconsistency remains front and center.
Baltimore also didn’t get any clarity on the kick return job. On the opening kickoff, Jonathan Ward and Dayton Wade were back to receive, even though neither is expected to make the active roster.
Last season, the Ravens tried a long list of options there, including Rasheen Ali, Justice Hill, LaJohntay Wester, and Keaton Mitchell. This game did not narrow the field much at all.
Chris Moore gave the Ravens another reminder that he can offer more than special teams value. He caught three passes for 54 yards and a touchdown on the opening drive, and the showing only strengthened the sense that he could still be around in 2026.
If Baltimore does not keep seven wide receivers, his role may not be on the active roster right away, but a practice squad spot looks available. A handshake agreement may be looming.
Ethan Burke kept making the kind of plays that stick in the building. The Texas product forced another fumble, made the edge uncomfortable, and got his hands up when the quarterback released the ball. After a strong summer, he looks increasingly hard to leave off the 53-man roster, and based on performance, he appears to be in better shape than Adisa Isaac.
Adam Randall also flashed in a big way. He showed burst and power, ran with edge, and bullied defenders on his way through contact. He even showed a receiver’s touch with a strong catch away from his frame early in the second quarter, then capped it with a Derrick Henry-style stiff arm on a 24-yard screen gain.
Randall’s outing could also squeeze Rasheen Ali. If Baltimore ends up leaning heavier at quarterback, wide receiver, or offensive line, the team would likely keep three running backs instead of four, and Ali would be the bubble name in that scenario. He had some moments against Washington, but not enough to create much certainty before Sunday’s cutdown day.
In Other News...
Ravens Face A Nervous Wait As Young Talent Hits Waivers
The Ravens have trimmed their roster to 53, and the hard part is only beginning. After releasing more than two dozen players, Baltimore now has to sit through the NFL waiver process while other teams sort through the same cuts, and the next move is already lined up with a 16-man practice squad waiting to be filled.
For a team that has spent the summer sorting out young talent at the margins, the real tension is which of those cut players make it back to Baltimore once waivers clear, and which ones are gone for good. Several names are considered legitimate claim risks, while the Ravens are also lining up possible practice squad additions if the board breaks their way. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Just Turned Tyler Loops Job Into A Real Battle
The Ravens added another layer to a kicking competition that was already worth watching, signing veteran Jake Moody to the practice squad as they continue sorting out the spot. Moody brings NFL experience from San Francisco, Chicago and Washington, and his familiarity with Ravens coaches Jesse Minter and Declan Doyle gives the move a little extra intrigue beyond a simple depth add.
Baltimore also filled out the practice squad with several other players as it looks to strengthen depth across key positions, but the kicking job is the part that now has a real test attached to it. For Tyler Loop, the message is clear: the organization is not content to let the position settle without another look, and every rep from here carries more weight. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens 53-Man Roster Leaves Two Big Week 1 Questions Open
The Ravens came out of roster cutdown day with a Week 1 group that answered plenty of the obvious questions, but not all of them. Baltimore kept defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike and inside linebacker Teddye Buchanan on the initial 53-man roster despite limited practice time, a sign the team was willing to carry some uncertainty into the opener while also preserving depth at key spots. The front office also used the deadline to shuffle the edges of the roster, designating players to return from injured reserve and making trades that sent nose tackle C.J. Okoye and offensive tackle Diego Pounds elsewhere.
What stands out is how much of the roster picture still feels unfinished even after the official cutdown. The Ravens also held onto undrafted rookies Joe Fagnano and Ethan Burke, a reminder that the team is still willing to bet on upside while trimming other hopefuls loose. For a roster built to contend right away, the real question now is not just who survived the first wave of decisions, but which of these early moves will matter once Week 1 arrives and the game-day health report starts to shape the lineup. [Read more 🡒]