The Ravens’ preseason has taken a sharp turn at center, and it comes with a familiar name added on defense.
Danny Pinter’s season is over before it ever really got going. The Baltimore center tore his patella tendon during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Vikings, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, and the Ravens quickly moved him to injured reserve. It’s a tough break for Pinter, who was on track to start in the middle of Baltimore’s offensive line.
Jesse Minter confirmed Tuesday that the injury would end Pinter’s 2026 season. He also pointed to the next men up, saying Ethan Pocic and Jovaughn Gwyn are the leading candidates to replace him. Both are set to keep working with the first-team offense through the rest of this week’s training camp practices.
Baltimore filled the roster spot by signing former Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett, ESPN’s Jamison Hensley reported. Barrett is another player with a direct tie to Minter, having played for him at Michigan during the Wolverines’ 2023 national title run.
During his Michigan career, Barrett recorded 208 total tackles, 8.5 sacks and two interceptions.
The connection is clear, but the roster path is not. Baltimore already has Roquan Smith, Teddye Buchanan and Trenton Simpson lined up as its main inside linebackers, and there are already multiple backups battling for limited spots behind them. That leaves Barrett facing an uphill climb to stick on the 53-man roster.
For now, the most realistic landing spot for him may be the practice squad.
In Other News...
Lamar Jackson's Future Just Got Pulled Back Into Focus
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For Ravens fans, the part worth watching is the Lamar Jackson angle, because Tomlins possible landing spot in New York has already led to talk that Jackson could at least consider a trade scenario. Nothing has moved beyond rumor, and both men are still where they are for now, but it is the kind of connection that quickly drags a franchise quarterback back into the center of league chatter. [Read more 🡒]
Ethan Burke Is Making The Ravens' Final Roster Call Much Harder
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Burke is not just fighting for a generic depth role. He is pushing for the final outside linebacker spot and giving Adisa Isaac a legitimate challenge there, with his special teams impact adding to his case after notable work in joint practice. Burke also arrived with a strong college special teams reputation, and if he keeps stacking those kinds of reps, the Ravens may have a tougher 53-man decision than they planned. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Hamilton Just Said The Quiet Part About Footballs Risk
Kyle Hamilton is already thinking well beyond this season, and not just about the Ravens' playoff chase. The Baltimore safety said he expects the NFL to move to a 20-game regular season within the next decade, a shift that would push the league even deeper into the business of delivering more football while asking players to absorb even more punishment.
Hamilton also didnt soften his view of what the sport costs the people who play it. He said the physical risks are serious enough that he would likely steer his future children away from football after high school, a candid window into how todays players weigh the games appeal against its long-term toll. His comments land at a time when the leagues appetite for more games feels obvious, even as the conversation around how much football is too much keeps growing louder. [Read more 🡒]