OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh wasn’t ready to announce his starting lineup for their Week 1 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, but it’s not hard to read between the lines and make that decision, at least at the two starting guard positions.
“I think we’re close,” Harbaugh said after practice Monday. “I think we have a pretty good idea of where we’re headed in different areas. It’s not quite clear yet, but we’re in a good place right now.”
Andrew Vorhees, a 2023 seventh-round pick who spent his entire rookie season on the non-football injured list while recovering from a torn ACL, has been the first-team left guard throughout training camp and the two preseason games. Daniel Faalele, a 2022 fourth-round pick who was a reserve tackle in his first two NFL seasons, has done the same at right guard.
With no one else really seeing much action at either position this summer and the game against the Chiefs just over two weeks away, it seems almost a formality that Vorhees and Faalele will begin the season as starters inside. If that hadn’t been the plan, this week would have seemingly been the week things would change, with a joint practice against the Green Bay Packers scheduled for Thursday and the final preseason game scheduled for Saturday at Lambeau Field.
After serving as a reserve tackle for his first two NFL seasons, Daniel Faalele is expected to start at guard for the Ravens in Week 1. (Tommy Gilligan / USA Today)
However, Harbaugh’s suggestion that the team is “close” to making a final decision does not mean that a turnaround is imminent, as the Ravens will look to fill the spots left vacant by the departure of free agents such as Kevin Zeitler and John Simpson this offseason.
The Ravens have yet to make a decision at right tackle after trading veteran Morgan Moses in March. Veteran Patrick Mekari, who has held the team’s valuable sixth offensive lineman position for the past few seasons, has split first-team duties with second-round rookie Roger Rosengarten throughout training camp. Mekari started the first preseason game at right tackle and the second at center, while Rosengarten made his first start at right tackle in last Saturday’s preseason win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Baltimore values Mekari’s versatility and willingness to step in at any of the five positions on the offensive line throughout the game. The Ravens also know pretty well what to expect from the sixth-year pro.
However, Rosengarten is the team’s future at right tackle. It’s just not clear if that future tackle will line up in Week 1 against the Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, an environment that’s expected to be hostile for a rookie tackle making his regular-season debut.
The Ravens still expect 2023 Pro Bowl nominee Tyler Linderbaum to start at center in that game. Linderbaum hasn’t practiced since Aug. 1 because of a neck injury, but Harbaugh said Monday he’s doing whatever it takes to be ready for Week 1.
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“He’s right on schedule, right where we planned,” Harbaugh said. “He’s not going to do any contact drills this week, but he’s participating in all the (walkthrough) drills we do — he’s done all of those, so he’s in a good position.”
With Linderbaum not practicing, Nick Samac, the Ravens’ seventh-round rookie, worked as the first-team center. Harbaugh said Samac, who was slowed early in the offseason by the broken fibula he suffered at Michigan State in November, took a “huge step” last week and played well in Saturday’s preseason game.
This is a big week for Samac, who is considered a sure bet. With left tackle Ronnie Stanley, Vorhees, Linderbaum, Faalele, Rosengarten, Mekari, Josh Jones and Ben Cleveland considered safe bets, one or two spots on the offensive line still need to be filled. Samac, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu and Tashawn Manning are the strongest contenders for those spots.
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Other thoughts, observations
• Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson had a brief scare when he was forced to leave practice for about 10 minutes on Monday. It wasn’t clear what happened, but Jackson was sitting behind the field conferring with head coach Adrian Dixon. The quarterback flexed his right foot/ankle. He walked inside with Dixon but returned to practice and did his usual amount of reps. Jackson said after practice that he felt “wonderful.”
• Before his unceremonious departure, Jackson was practicing really well. He made one of his best throws all summer when he hit Rashod Bateman on the run for a 60-yard touchdown. Bateman was one step ahead of cornerback Ka’dar Hollman and Jackson, who has been unreliable with the long ball for most of training camp, dropped it right into his hands. Jackson also made a perfect throw to tight end Isaiah Likely in his one-on-one against first-round cornerback Nate Wiggins. Jackson placed the ball just over Wiggins’ right shoulder and into Likely’s hands. Wiggins didn’t even have a chance to turn his head. The only blemish on Jackson’s strong day was his interception in the end zone to Damarion Williams. Jackson tried to get the ball to wide receiver Keith Kirkwood in the back of the end zone, but his throw was too late and Williams had time to step up and intercept it.
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• Wiggins also recorded another interception in training camp, breaking up and intercepting rookie quarterback Devin Leary’s pass to tight end Qadir Ismail. Wiggins took plenty of reps, a good sign that he’s doing much better after spraining his shoulder in the season opener. Fellow rookie cornerback TJ Tampa, who was activated from the physically unable to perform list last week after undergoing surgery on a double hernia before training camp, also took another step forward by participating in the team’s workout.
• Ravens tight end Mark Andrews has not practiced since he was involved in a horrific car accident less than two miles from the team’s facility on Aug. 14. However, Harbaugh said Andrews is dealing with a “very minor” injury. He added, “Don’t worry about Mark. He’s going to be OK.” The Ravens have lost one tight end to a serious injury in recent days. Scottie Washington, who spent part of last season on the Ravens’ practice squad, broke his hand during a special teams play in the preseason game against the Falcons. Washington is expected to land on the injured list.
• Rookie running back Rasheen Ali (stinger) and wide receiver Devontez Walker (ribs) were unable to practice on Monday, bringing the Ravens closer to a possible decision on their immediate future. The Ravens must trim their roster from 91 to 53 by 4 p.m. Aug. 27. If the Ravens aren’t convinced Ali (fifth-round pick) and Walker (fourth-round pick) will help the team early in the season, they could place both rookies on the injured list and free up spots for two others. Both Ali and Walker have had disappointing summers. Ali appears to have fallen behind Owen Wright in the battle for the third running back spot. Walker has struggled with injuries and inconsistency and is unlikely to play a significant role on offense even if he begins the season on the 53-man roster.
• Ravens offensive coordinator Todd Monken was absent from Ravens practice, giving quarterbacks coach Tee Martin the opportunity to call plays. Monken’s father, Bob, a longtime high school football coach, died Aug. 4. His funeral was held Monday in Illinois.
(Top photo of Andrew Vorhees: Terrance Williams / AP Photo)
