Ronnie Stanley is one step nearer to taking part in within the Ravens’ season opener. Exterior linebacker Tyus Bowser’s 2022 debut, nevertheless, should wait.
Stanley, the All-Professional left deal with who’s been sidelined by ankle accidents over the previous two years, handed his bodily Friday and has been faraway from the physically-unable-to-perform checklist. His return to observe subsequent week might put him on monitor to play within the Ravens’ Week 1 recreation on Sept. 11 towards the New York Jets.
Bowser, nonetheless rehabilitating a torn Achilles tendon, will miss at the very least the crew’s first 4 video games after being positioned on the reserve/PUP checklist Friday. The Ravens’ 2021 sack chief has not been cleared to observe and now can return as early as their Week 5 recreation towards the Cincinnati Bengals, an absence that additional depletes a skinny exterior linebacker group.
After a breakout 2019, Stanley performed in simply six video games in 2020, together with his final coming simply two days after he signed a five-year contract extension that made him one of many NFL’s highest-paid offensive linemen. His season-ending left ankle harm in November 2020 required two operations and delayed his return to coaching camp till final summer season. Stanley began within the Ravens’ 2021 season opener towards the Las Vegas Raiders however struggled within the time beyond regulation loss, permitting one quarterback hit and eight hurries, in keeping with Professional Soccer Focus.
It was his first and final recreation of the season. Stanley didn’t return to observe afterward, and coach John Harbaugh declined to touch upon his availability. He was positioned on injured reserve after present process his second season-ending ankle surgical procedure on Oct. 19.
Stanley informed The Athletic in November that he “possibly … ought to have waited slightly bit longer, regardless of the case could also be, construct up slightly extra power round this ankle,” earlier than returning to motion. “I believe I might have simply used slightly extra time.”
Harbaugh mentioned Tuesday that, in exercises with the crew’s athletic coaching employees, Stanley “seems like he’s in actually fine condition.” If Stanley returns to observe Monday, he would have about two weeks to organize for the season opener, lower than the three weeks Harbaugh had hoped for. If Stanley’s unavailable in Week 1, the Ravens would seemingly flip to Ja’Wuan James, who final began a recreation in 2019.
“May you velocity [the timeline] up slightly bit if they appear actually nice at observe?” Harbaugh mentioned. “You in all probability might. We’ll simply must see the way it goes, and see how they really feel. Lots of it's how the participant feels at that time.”
Bowser tore his Achilles tendon within the Ravens’ Jan. 9 regular-season finale, however Harbaugh was hopeful solely weeks later that he could be again for the beginning of the season, if not in time for coaching camp. Bowser declined earlier this month to take a position on whether or not he’d be accessible for Week 1, saying, “At any time when I’m prepared, I’m prepared.” Harbaugh had mentioned Tuesday that Bowser “seems like he’s in actually fine condition.”
With Bowser sidelined, the Ravens will likely be with out maybe their most versatile exterior linebacker and an ascending edge rusher (career-high seven sacks in 2021). His absence might additionally power common supervisor Eric DeCosta to search for defensive assist, both in free company or within the crew’s class of undrafted rookies.
Exterior linebacker Odafe Oweh is poised for a breakout second season however, like reserve Daelin Hayes, handled accidents as a rookie. Justin Houston, one other projected starter, is 33 years outdated, and reserve Steven Means turns 32 subsequent month. Second-round decide David Ojabo, who’s additionally recovering from a torn Achilles tendon, isn’t anticipated to be wholesome till at the very least midseason.
The Ravens additionally signed rookie kicker-punter Cameron Dicker forward of Saturday’s preseason finale towards the Washington Commanders. Dicker, whom the Los Angeles Rams launched earlier this month, seemingly will deal with some kicking duties whereas starter Justin Tucker rests.
Preseason, Week 3
COMMANDERS@RAVENS
Saturday, 7 p.m.
TV: Ch. 11
Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM
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