EAGAN, Minn. - The Ravens are expected to turn the spotlight over to the rest of the roster Saturday at U.S. Bank Stadium, and that makes their preseason game against the Vikings less about the headline names and more about the battles and tests underneath them.
After two days of starters going against starters in joint practices, the first team is set to sit. That should open the door for depth players and rookies, even if head coach Jesse Minter suggested the Ravens may show a little less of the young players projected to start. Still, there are a few spots worth tracking closely as the game unfolds.
The most obvious one is at center, where the picture got murkier when Danny Pinter went down in practice. Pinter had been making a push to be the next starter after Tyler Linderbaum’s departure, earning early praise from coaches and the front office while working with Lamar Jackson.
Then a Vikings defensive lineman rolled up on him in team drills, and he had to be carted off. He reportedly tore his patellar tendon, which would put him out for the season if that’s confirmed.
That leaves the Ravens searching for a starter, and the depth chart behind him is far from settled. Ethan Pocic is still working his way back from the Achilles injury he suffered last season.
He played only 14 snaps in the first preseason game and still needs more practice reps before he can be counted on in full. If he gets back to his old level, Pocic could have the edge simply because he’s the only center in the mix with starting experience.
Then there’s Jovaughn Gwyn, who has suddenly become a real part of the conversation. He played the most snaps in the first preseason game and graded out best among Ravens offensive linemen. He has also stacked together strong practices, and another clean performance would only strengthen his case.
“I thought both of those guys acquitted themselves fairly well - just kind of hanging in there and doing some of the things, getting thrown in there a little bit more,” Minter said. “So again, [the center position] is probably still a competition, and we will see how it shakes out over these next couple weeks.”
Corey Bullock is still in the mix too, after beating out more experienced players for the backup job last season, though he has been dealing with a non-football issue and has been taking snaps at guard.
The center job may not be settled for long no matter who wins it, but right now it remains one of the clearest competitions on the roster.
Saturday also gives rookie offensive coordinator Declan Doyle another live look at his offense from a different angle. He was in the booth for the opener against the Eagles, but this time he’ll be on the field, calling plays in game action for the first time in a hostile setting against Brian Flores’ defense.
Doyle said before that his choice of where to call plays from - the booth or the field - will be shaped by these preseason reps. This week, though, his offense has had a rough time dealing with Flores’ nonstop pressure. Minter said there are definitely things to clean up, but he also noted the Ravens have been facing a defense that does things their future opponents probably won’t.
With most starters resting, the real question becomes what Doyle can do with the backups. Can they handle Flores’ backups? And can they do it without giving away the best parts of Doyle’s system, since teams usually keep plenty hidden before the games count?
The game will also offer a chance to watch Doyle beyond the play sheet. How he works the sideline, what he tells players coming off the field, and how he responds when things change in real time will all be part of the picture.
Kicker Tyler Loop has his own rebound story to follow. His rookie season ended with a missed field goal that knocked the Ravens out of playoff contention, and he opened his second season by missing a field goal in the preseason game against the Eagles. Since then, though, he has been sharp in practice.
Against the Vikings, Loop made all six of his field-goal attempts, connecting from 33 yards twice, 38 yards, 43 yards twice and 53 yards once.
Practice success only goes so far, of course. The Ravens have not said they plan to bring in competition for Loop, but that could change if he struggles again.
In Other News...
Ravens Rookie QB Just Forced His Way Into A Real Debate
Joe Fagnano has already done enough in one preseason outing to make the Ravens take a longer look at him. The undrafted rookie out of UConn stood out against a Vic Fangio defense, finishing Week 1 of the preseason with the most completions and passing yards among quarterbacks, a showing that quickly pushed him from afterthought to conversation piece in Baltimores quarterback room.
Now the challenge gets sharper against a Minnesota defense coordinated by Brian Flores, one that is built to pressure young passers and force fast decisions. Ravens coaches Jesse Minter and Declan Doyle have acknowledged the test ahead and expect Fagnano to pick up valuable experience, but his recent performance has already sparked talk about whether he can develop into a backup option worth keeping around. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Camp Just Exposed One Encouraging Sign And One Real Concern
Joint practices with the Vikings gave the Ravens a useful midcamp measuring stick, and they came away with at least one bright spot. Rookie wide receiver JaKobi Lane stood out with a strong showing, while the secondary, led by Marlon Humphrey and Nate Wiggins, held up well against Minnesotas top targets and gave Baltimore something to feel good about on the defensive side.
The more troubling takeaway came on the other side of the ball, where the offense looked sluggish and had trouble coping with pressure. Ronnie Stanley had a rough day against the Vikings pass rush, and the unit as a whole struggled when the blitz got home, leaving the Ravens with a reminder that camp progress can be uneven even when a few individual performances pop. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Have Real Roster Decisions Riding On This Preseason Game
The Ravens preseason has become less about scoreboards and more about sorting through the back end of the roster, with Jesse Minter leaning on a cautious plan for veterans while giving rookies and second-year players the bulk of the reps. That approach has already left some notable names on the sideline, even players like Trenton Simpson, as Baltimore uses August to answer a lot of small questions at once.
There is still the kicker spot to sort out, and the injury picture is adding its own pressure, with Danny Pinter likely headed for a season-ending setback. For younger players hoping to make their case, the next preseason game carries real weight, because these snaps are not just about showing up in camp, they are about whether there will be a place for them when the roster gets trimmed. [Read more 🡒]