The Ravens might need some depth points at broad receiver.
Throughout Baltimore’s 23-10 preseason-opening victory over the Tennessee Titans Thursday evening, Tylan Wallace suffered a knee sprain whereas coach John Harbaugh stated James Proche II has a smooth tissue damage that might preserve him out for every week or two.
With 5:10 to go within the first quarter, Wallace acquired the handoff on an end-around earlier than getting tackled for a 4-yard loss by Titans exterior linebacker Rashad Weaver. Wallace was evaluated contained in the workforce’s medical tent earlier than heading into the locker room and didn't return.
Proche, however, didn't seem within the recreation.
Wallace, a 2021 fourth-round decide, has a historical past of knee accidents as he suffered a torn ACL in October 2019, forcing him to overlook the ultimate 5 video games of his junior season at Oklahoma State.
Wallace appeared in 17 video games final season, together with one begin, and had two catches for 23 yards. He performed totally on particular groups, recording 278 snaps on that unit in contrast with 84 snaps on offense. He’s competing for snaps at broad receiver behind Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay and Proche, all of whom didn't play Thursday because the Ravens sat most of their starters.
Proche, a 2020 sixth-round decide, caught 16 passes for 202 yards final season. He’s acquired praised from receivers coach Tee Martin, who stated the fourth-year participant is having a greater coaching camp than final summer season.
“I believe he’s doing even higher this 12 months, as a result of he’s taken the subsequent step,” Martin stated. “He performed just a little bit extra in video games final 12 months, and he understands the chance in entrance of him. So, he’s attacking it every single day. He’s asking a variety of nice questions, he’s enjoying three positions for us and enjoying lights out.”
The Ravens’ receivers have handled their share of accidents up to now throughout coaching camp. Duvernay was sidelined for every week with a thigh damage he suffered in the course of the workforce’s stadium follow final month, whereas Bateman missed two days with a smooth tissue damage. In the meantime, undrafted free brokers Slade Bolden and Bailey Gaither have been seen leaving follow early this week and didn't play towards the Titans.
With accidents to Wallace and Proche, receivers like Shemar Bridges, who had 4 catches for 62 yards and a landing Thursday, Jaylon Moore (two catches for 15 yards), Makai Polk (six catches for 63 yards) and Binjimen Victor (4 catches for 30 yards) have a chance to make a case for themselves. Nonetheless, it appears doubtless the Ravens will go into the free-agent market and add a veteran wideout.
Bowser taking restoration course of ‘day-by-day’
Ravens exterior linebacker Tyus Bowser, who's recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, stated Thursday that he's taking his restoration course of “day-by-day.” When requested about his probabilities of enjoying within the regular-season opener towards the New York Jets on Sept. 11, Bowser stated “at any time when I’m prepared, I’m prepared.”
Bowser was one of many Ravens’ high defensive gamers in 2021, registering 56 tackles, seven sacks and 15 quarterback hits earlier than injuring his Achilles within the season finale towards the Pittsburgh Steelers.
32 gamers sit
Thirty-two gamers sat out Thursday evening as Harbaugh sidelined all of his offensive starters, in addition to exterior linebacker Justin Houston, defensive sort out Calais Campbell, safeties Marcus Williams and Chuck Clark and cornerbacks Marlon Humphrey, Kyle Fuller and rookie Jalyn Armour-Davis.
Second-year exterior linebacker Odafe Oweh performed one snap within the first quarter earlier than taking his shoulder pads off and watching the remainder of the sport from the sideline. Defensive sort out Michael Pierce additionally performed in a few drives in the course of the first quarter.
Omar whistle returns
It seems the Ravens will proceed utilizing the Omar whistle throughout their pregame introductions. Earlier than the workforce took the sector Thursday evening, the whistling of “The Farmer within the Dell” by Omar Little from “The Wire” performed all through the stadium. Final season, the Ravens performed the whistle as a tribute to the late actor Michael Ok. Williams, who performed the scarred, shotgun-toting, stickup man within the hit HBO present.
The whistle was anticipated to be a one-night tribute till it went viral on social media and the workforce determined to maintain it shifting ahead.
Omar’s whistle lately discovered its solution to Camden Yards, as Orioles nearer Félix Bautista used it to boost his introduction to the mound. Although Bautista stated he doesn’t know what “The Wire” is, he appreciated the thought of the monitor signifying intimidation for opposing hitters.
Tribute for late Ravens
Earlier than the nationwide anthem, the Ravens held a second of silence to honor former gamers Jaylon Ferguson and Tony Siragusa, who died in June.
Ferguson, 26, was coming into his fourth season in Baltimore after being picked within the third spherical of the 2019 draft. He died from the mixed results of fentanyl and cocaine, the Workplace of the Chief Medical Examiner stated after the surface linebacker was discovered unresponsive in a North Baltimore dwelling. Siragusa, who died at 55, spent 5 of his 12-year NFL profession with the Ravens and helped lead the workforce to its first Tremendous Bowl title in franchise historical past.
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