Left tackle Ronnie Stanley was supposed to be next in line for a payday from the Ravens. That made his absence because of a shoulder injury in Week 4 an interesting case study for an organization with several young stars to pay and only so much salary cap space to go around in the not-too-distant future. That list was shortened by one last week with Baltimore making Marlon Humphrey the NFL’s second-highest paid cornerback, but a lucrative financial commitment awaits for reigning league MVP quarterback Lamar Jackson and others. Despite Stanley being “really close to going” against Washington in head coach John Harbaugh’s words, the Ravens moved Pro Bowl right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to the left side in the 31-17 victory. And while we don’t know every detail of a lineman’s responsibilities when reviewing the game film, the 24-year-old Brown performed well in his first start at left tackle since his time at the University of Oklahoma, especially in the first half as he made Washington defensive end Montez Sweat a non-factor. Many had expected Baltimore to turn to veteran D.J. Fluker at left tackle since he filled in for Stanley in the second half of the Week 1
