OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Neither Vega Ioane nor the Ravens know whether the rookie will be the starting center moving forward.
But after losing their top three options at the position to long-term injuries in just over a month, the Ravens have little choice but to turn to the 2026 first-round guard for Sunday’s meeting with Tennessee. After holding up admirably over the final eight offensive snaps after starter Jovaughn Gwyn and backup Ethan Pocic exited the Week 3 win over Dallas, Ioane now has an entire practice week to refine his snapping and prepare to make the protection calls for the rest of the offensive line.
The latter is the bigger challenge for the 6-foot-4, 326-pound Ioane, who began practicing snaps as the No. 3 emergency center not long after Danny Pinter suffered a season-ending knee injury in late August.
“I’d say the mental aspect of it. Those three guys — Ethan, Jo, and Danny — they made the job look so easy that I came in and I was thinking it should be easy,” said Ioane about the challenges of playing center. “It’s not an easy thing to do, but I’d say the biggest difference and challenge is the mental part. You have to understand what the defense is giving you and things like that, but I’m ready for it.”
With Ioane moving to center for the time being, the question becomes who will man right guard with head coach Jesse Minter expecting Andrew Vorhees and Emery Jones Jr. to “duke it out a little bit” for that job. Of course, that doesn’t mean the Ravens are overly confident in either being a long-term starter, making the interior offensive line plans very fluid beyond Week 4.
On Wednesday, Minter wasn’t ready to declare Gwyn and Pocic out for the remainder of the season, but he confirmed “definitely long-term” absences for both. Gwyn suffered a fractured fibula that will require surgery, according to ESPN.
The Ravens signed center Andre James and guard Kyle Hergel to their practice squad on Wednesday. Hergel has minimal playing experience in the NFL, but the 29-year-old James played in 17 games for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2025, making him a familiar face for Minter. James has made 61 career starts over a seven-year career, which makes him someone to watch as he learns Declan Doyle’s offense in the coming days and weeks.
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“I think you’re always looking for what’s going to be the best next week, the week after [and] what’s going to be the best for us in December,” said Minter about Baltimore’s offensive line picture. “I think we’ll continue to find whatever that is, whatever that might be. That could be a lot of different things to try to make that become a strength and get guys in their best position to help us win.”
One notable absence from the start of Wednesday’s practice was quarterback Lamar Jackson, who is dealing with a back issue. The two-time NFL MVP spoke with reporters before practice and was in full uniform at the end of the workout, which alleviated any concerns about his Week 4 status.
“Just dealing with something small, so that was good,” said Minter about Jackson’s health. “I had heard that maybe that was sheer pandemonium that he wasn’t out there earlier, but he ended up being able to get some stuff done.”
Jackson showing up on the injury report was a reminder of how critical it will be for the Ravens to stabilize an offensive line that’s really struggled in pass protection and short-yardage situations over the first three weeks of the 2026 season.
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley (toe) returned to practice after sitting out the Week 3 win over Dallas.
The Titans practiced without defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers and running backs Tony Pollard and Tyjae Spears on Wednesday, but head coach Robert Saleh indicated all three are expected to be ready to play against the Ravens on Sunday.
Below is Wednesday’s full injury report:
BALTIMORE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DL Calais Campbell (rest), C Jovaughn Gwyn (ankle), OLB Trey Hendrickson (finger), C Ethan Pocic (knee)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION: WR Zay Flowers (hamstring), CB Marlon Humphrey (hamstring), QB Lamar Jackson (back), WR Chris Moore (ankle), G John Simpson (groin), TE Durham Smythe (heel), OT Ronnie Stanley (toe)
FULL PARTICIPATION: TE Mark Andrews (hand)
TENNESSEE
DID NOT PARTICIPATE: DL John Franklin-Myers (back), RB Tony Pollard (foot), RB Tyjae Spears (ankle)
