OWINGS MILLS, Md. — As the Ravens began trimming their roster to the 53-man limit ahead of Tuesday’s 4 p.m. deadline, one of their best players returned to practice after nearly a monthlong absence.
Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum practiced Monday for the first time since Aug. 1 after dealing with what head coach John Harbaugh initially described as a “minor soft-tissue” injury. Wearing a red vest over his jersey — signifying no contact — and sporting a new neck roll on top of his shoulder pads, Linderbaum appeared to be a limited participant in the portion of practice open to reporters.
Harbaugh said at a few different points during Linderbaum’s extended absence that the Ravens were being extra cautious with the 2022 first-round pick who’s rapidly become one of the NFL’s top centers.
“I thought he looked good out there,” Harbaugh said. “It’s good to see Tyler Linderbaum out there at practice. I’m pleased with that.”
Entering the season with three new starters on the offensive line, the Ravens are leaning heavily on Linderbaum, left tackle Ronnie Stanley, and right tackle candidate and top reserve Patrick Mekari to provide strong play and leadership for an otherwise young group. That veteran leadership on and off the field has become even more important after the heartbreaking death of offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris, who had been hospitalized with an acute illness and taken a leave of absence earlier this month. George Warhop was hired to assume the offensive line coach responsibilities on Aug. 14.
Harbaugh said Mekari spoke to the team about D’Alessandris on Monday.
“Those guys who were with him for a long time, even the young guys who were impacted by him, [and] the rookies even, they were a little quieter today and locked in,” Harbaugh said. “As was the whole team, especially in the team meeting. His memory is going to be on our minds, and it should be. It should motivate us.”
Safety Kyle Hamilton, tight end Mark Andrews, and wide receiver Nelson Agholor headlined a list of 20 players missing from Monday’s practice, but Harbaugh said there were no undisclosed injuries expected to jeopardize anyone’s status for the Sept. 5 opener in Kansas City. Running back Rasheen Ali and inside linebacker Josh Ross both remain in the concussion protocol.
Of course, some of Monday’s absences were a result of the first wave of roster cuts. Baltimore officially released veteran wide receiver Russell Gage and waived wide receiver Sean Ryan, tight ends Mike Rigerman and Riley Sharp, offensive tackle Darrell Simpson, defensive tackle Tramel Walthour, and punter Jack Browning on Monday. Gage was a notable summer addition who posted back-to-back seasons of more than 700 receiving yards in 2020 and 2021, but he wasn’t able to stay healthy after missing all of last season with a torn patellar tendon.
Those cuts officially left 83 players on the roster, but general manager Eric DeCosta continued making moves Monday evening. According to The Athletic, third-year cornerback and 2022 fourth-round pick Damarion Williams was part of the next wave of cuts that hadn’t been announced.
