Ja'Kobi Lane’s fractured wrist has opened the door for Devontez Walker, and the Ravens may already know where they want to turn.
Baltimore opened the season with a 41-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts, but the victory came with a couple of knocks at wide receiver. Zay Flowers is dealing with a hamstring injury that’s considered day-to-day, while Lane is expected to miss several weeks after fracturing his wrist.
That’s a tough break for Lane, who looked set to carve out a meaningful role as a rookie. He flashed a little of that upside against Indianapolis, catching one pass for 11 yards and also hauling in a touchdown that was wiped out by a holding call.
Now the spotlight shifts to who can absorb those reps, and Walker looks like the best bet.
He isn’t a carbon copy of Lane. Walker brings more speed, while Lane’s game leans more on size and winning contested catches. Even so, Walker has already shown he can make something happen when his number is called, and Baltimore suddenly needs more from the receiver room.
Head coach Jesse Minter made it clear the Ravens want their internal options to step up.
"Tez Walker and [Elijah Sarratt], I got a lot of confidence in those guys. Those guys have had a ton of reps within our offense," Minter said. "Those two guys have a real opportunity to get themselves in rhythm."
Sarratt is also in the mix, though he was a healthy scratch in Week 1. Walker, meanwhile, missed Sunday with a groin injury, but it’s not viewed as serious. That leaves him lined up for a bigger chance if he’s ready to go.
The intrigue with Walker goes beyond the injury situation. Under the previous coaching staff, he never really got a real run at a larger role. Across two seasons, he was targeted just 11 times, but he still managed to turn those chances into four touchdowns.
There’s also a stylistic fit here. Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle wants to push the ball downfield and lean into explosive plays, and Week 1 showed that direction in action. That setup plays directly into Walker’s strengths.
That’s why the possibility of a breakout has been sitting there for a while. With Lane sidelined, it looks even more realistic now. Starting in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, Walker should have a real chance to get involved on deeper concepts, and the Ravens may finally be ready to let his speed do some damage.
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