Chidobe Awuzie may finally be getting the kind of opening he’s been waiting for in Baltimore.
After spending much of the early part of the season on the outside looking in, Awuzie could be in line for a much bigger role in Week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons. Marlon Humphrey missed the first two days of practice because of a calf injury, and even if he’s able to go on Sunday, he’s also dealing with a hamstring issue. That puts Awuzie squarely in the conversation for a start.
Jesse Minter said last month that he was looking for ways to get Awuzie on the field, and this might be the moment where the Ravens have no real alternative. Awuzie got a chance to play more last week against the Tennessee Titans after Humphrey’s injury, but he didn’t exactly make the most of it. Now he gets another shot to change that.
The timing matters because Awuzie has already shown he can be useful. Last season, while Baltimore’s pass defense struggled badly, he was one of the few cornerbacks who held up with any consistency. The Ravens finished second-worst in the league against the pass, giving up 247.9 passing yards per game, and Awuzie was the closest thing they had to a steady presence at the position in Zach Orr’s defense.
The 31-year-old finished with a 74.7 overall grade and a 75.3 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus, and he added seven pass breakups. Those numbers helped build the case for bringing him back, but the new scheme has made things tougher. Minter has leaned into three-safety looks and given outside snaps to Nate Wiggins and Humphrey, which has pushed Awuzie down the depth chart.
That has left him with very little runway. Through the first three weeks, he played only 22 defensive snaps.
Week 4 gave him a bigger stage. Awuzie logged 55 defensive snaps in the win over Tennessee, and while the performance was uneven, it wasn’t empty.
He was targeted six times, allowed a couple of catches, and was called for a 39-yard pass interference penalty. Still, there were also moments where his coverage looked sticky and competitive.
That’s the version Baltimore needs more of now. The Ravens’ secondary has been shaky overall, with Kyle Hamilton and Nate Wiggins doing most of the heavy lifting after a strong start in Week 1. Beyond them, the group has not lived up to the hype, and Humphrey’s health only adds to the uncertainty.
Against Atlanta, Awuzie could be asked to carry more of the load than at any point this season. Sunday Night Football may turn into a real test for him, especially with the Falcons rolling offensively since Michael Penix Jr. returned. Atlanta scored 35 points in Week 3 and 45 in Week 4, and in that stretch it has put up easily the most points in the league.
Awuzie’s size and physical style should matter in that matchup, especially against Drake London. At 6-foot and 202 pounds, he has the frame to play with some force, and Baltimore may need exactly that if he’s going to earn a larger and more permanent role moving forward.
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Ravens May Need A Different Formula To Stun The Falcons
Baltimore heads into its matchup with Atlanta having to navigate a far different kind of challenge than usual, with the Ravens installed as underdogs against a team built around a punishing run game and a sturdy defense. For a roster already dealing with multiple injuries, the margin for error looks thin, and the familiar formula of leaning on explosive offense may not be available in the same way this week.
The bigger concern is how Baltimore pieces together its offense if the line is not at full strength, because the Ravens could be forced to shuffle personnel and lean on a group that has not had much time to settle in. On the other side, the defense will need to be sharper against the Falcons ground attack than it has been against more conventional opponents, which means the Ravens may have to win this game with adjustments, discipline and a plan that looks a little different than the one fans are used to seeing. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Face A Major Week 5 Question With Zay Flowers
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The concern is not just the foot issue. Flowers has also been managing a lingering hamstring injury, which adds another layer to the decision on how hard to push him if he is not fully healthy. For a team that wants its offense clicking, the question is no longer whether Flowers matters, but how much the Ravens are willing to ask of him if the body does not cooperate. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Are Testing A Risky Plan With Lamar Jackson Still Out
With Lamar Jackson still sidelined, the Ravens are asking Snoop Huntley to keep the offense on schedule while operating behind an offensive line that has already had to absorb plenty of heat. That is not a simple ask in any week, and it gets even trickier against an Atlanta defense built to make quarterbacks uncomfortable without having to send extra rushers.
Rookie offensive coordinator Declan Doyle has tried to keep the approach pointed forward, even with Huntleys limitations shaping what Baltimore can reasonably expect through the air. The tension now is whether the Ravens can stay aggressive enough to threaten the Falcons downfield while protecting a backup quarterback who has already shown how hard those throws can be when pressure arrives quickly. [Read more 🡒]