OWINGS MILLS, Md. — The transitioning Ravens offensive line has been one of the biggest storylines of training camp, and the unit’s best player is now dealing with a minor injury.
Baltimore practiced without Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum on Friday, but he isn’t expected to be sidelined for too long. The 24-year-old took part in all of Thursday’s workout without any noticeable incident, so his absence from the practice field came as a surprise a day later.
“A minor soft-tissue kind of thing. We’ll keep him out today, we’ll keep him out tomorrow, and then he should be back sometime next week,” head coach John Harbaugh said following Friday’s practice. “We’ll be very patient with Tyler. He’s having a great camp. Some of those young [linemen] need a little more work anyway, so it kind of works out for us.”
With the Ravens needing to replace three starters on the offensive line and oft-injured left tackle Ronnie Stanley entering a contract year, Linderbaum will be counted on to step into an even greater leadership role after making his first Pro Bowl last season.
Also absent from Friday’s practice was return specialist and wide receiver Deonte Harty, who hasn’t practiced all week. That’s not ideal with the Ravens only a week away from their preseason opener and wanting to take full advantage of live-game reps to acclimate to the NFL’s new kickoff structure.
“I can’t say there’s no concern. We want to have all of our guys out here,” Harbaugh said. “He’s got a nagging soft-tissue, lower-leg deal. He’s had those in the past. It’s something that he does deal with. I think he’ll be fine and get plenty of reps. He’s had so many return reps generally, but you would want him out here with this new [kickoff rule] — getting a feel and the timing for it.”
Other Friday practice absentees included cornerback Trayvon Mullen (shoulder), outside linebacker Adisa Isaac (hamstring – non-football injury list), cornerback T.J. Tampa (sports hernia surgery – physically unable to perform list), and running back Keaton Mitchel (knee – PUP list).
With Isaac sidelined with a long-term hamstring injury since the spring and Malik Hamm suffering a torn ACL earlier this week, the Ravens have been light at the outside linebacker position early in camp and are eager to have the 2024 third-round pick out of Penn State back on the field to develop into a viable member of the pass-rush rotation.
“Adisa is going to get back here at some point in time soon,” Harbaugh said Thursday. “It’s been nagging him, but I do think he’ll be back sometime soon. That’s another depth piece, a guy that we’re counting on, so we’ll have to see where it goes.”
