The Ravens made a small move on Saturday that could ripple through their secondary in Week 3: they elevated K’Von Wallace from the practice squad, making him available for Sunday’s matchup with the Dallas Cowboys in Brazil.
At first glance, it looks crowded. Baltimore already seems to have a deep safety group with Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, and Keondre Jackson.
But the addition of Wallace makes more sense once you factor in Starks’ hamstring issue, which lingered through the week. He was limited Wednesday and Thursday, then listed as a full participant Friday, though that was only a walkthrough.
Wallace may simply give Baltimore another layer of protection.
That still leaves the Ravens with what could be five safeties available, which would be excessive for most teams. Baltimore, though, is built differently. The group is unusually flexible, and that gives Jesse Minter plenty of room to mix and match.
Hamilton has already shown through the first two weeks that he can move all over the field in this defense. Secondary, linebacker, defensive line - it doesn’t matter.
He’ll line up wherever Baltimore needs him and play at a high level. Hawkins has similar versatility, with the ability to work deep or in the box.
That flexibility matters if Starks can’t handle a full load. In that case, Baltimore could lean on Hamilton, Hawkins, or even Jackson in the center-field role, while Wallace fills in as the steady depth option.
The need for options is even more obvious after last week’s loss to the New Orleans Saints. Hawkins and Starks both had rough moments in coverage and missed tackles in space, which has made the safety room look a little less settled than expected entering the season. Wallace gives the Ravens another answer.
He fits as a hybrid safety, a physical player who spends most of his time near the line of scrimmage and can bounce between box and slot duties. He’s another movable piece for Minter, another way to keep Baltimore’s secondary fluid.
If the Ravens want to use him on defense, Wallace can work downhill while Hamilton keeps roaming all over the field as the positionless weapon he’s been so far.
Still, the ideal version of Sunday probably doesn’t feature much Wallace on defense at all. The best-case scenario is that he’s mostly a special teams presence while Starks gets back to normal. And even if Starks is limited, it would make sense to get Jackson some defensive snaps.
Jackson has drawn steady praise all offseason from the coaching staff, especially defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who has repeatedly pointed to his energy, work ethic, and growth. He’s already flashed as a special teams contributor, and there’s at least a chance he gets his first real defensive opportunity against the Cowboys.
However it unfolds, Baltimore has a lot of ways to sort out those five safeties. That should give Minter a long menu of looks to work with on Sunday.
In Other News...
Ravens Brazil Game Just Got An Unexpected Halftime Twist
The Ravens trip to Brazil is getting a bigger spotlight than just the football itself, with Ricky Martin set to headline the halftime show when Baltimore faces the Cowboys. Hell be joined onstage by Brazilian funk star Pedro Sampaio, adding a local flavor to a matchup already notable as part of the NFLs push into an international market.
For Baltimore, its another reminder that this game is being staged as more than a regular-season date on the schedule. Martin brings worldwide recognition and prior NFL halftime experience, while Sampaio gives the event a distinctly Brazilian edge, making the midgame break one more part of a night designed to feel like a showcase. [Read more 🡒]
Cowboys Fans Already Have A Dak Problem Before Rio Kickoff
The NFLs first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro is already drawing attention before kickoff, with the Cowboys and Ravens set to meet at Maracan Stadium in a showcase that feels as much about the setting as the matchup. Players who saw the field came away saying it was very soft, adding an immediate layer of uncertainty to a trip that was supposed to spotlight two of the leagues biggest brands on an international stage.
Off the field, the pregame presentation has also stirred conversation, especially among Cowboys fans who took issue with the caricatures of Dak Prescott and Lamar Jackson displayed around the stadium. Prescotts likeness in particular drew plenty of criticism online for how unflattering it looked, giving Dallas supporters something else to gripe about before the football even starts. [Read more 🡒]
Ravens Week 1 Opener Suddenly Has A Serious Brazil Problem
The Ravens Week 1 trip to Brazil is drawing some unexpected attention before either team takes the field, and it has nothing to do with travel or atmosphere. The Cowboys-Ravens matchup at Rio de Janeiros Maracana Stadium has sparked concerns about the condition of the playing surface, with league and union officials already weighing in on the work being done to improve traction and stability.
NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter and NFL field director Nick Pappas have both addressed the efforts underway to get the surface ready, underscoring just how closely this one is being watched. Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott has said he feels confident about playing there, but for Baltimore, the bigger question is whether the field is going to be in acceptable shape by kickoff. [Read more 🡒]