As if it weren’t difficult enough to get excited about the final preseason game, the Ravens announced they would only be playing a handful of starters tonight against the Atlanta Falcons in the Georgia Dome.
Despite discussion of the reconfigured offensive line playing a series or two in the first quarter, coach John Harbaugh has elected to play it safe and not risk any injuries, meaning the starting line will see its first live-game action together against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 11. The only projected offensive starter playing in tonight’s game will be tight end Ed Dickson.
Defensively, the Ravens have elected to deactivate Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Terrell Suggs, Haloti Ngata, Jarret Johnson, and Cory Redding against the Falcons. Terrence Cody, Jameel McClain, Domonique Foxworth, Cary Williams, and the combination of Tom Zbikowski and Bernard Pollard — it’s still undetermined who will start at strong safety next to Reed — will be the only starters taking the turf in Atlanta.
That said, a number of veteran backups and rookies will be fighting for their roster lives as the Ravens conclude the preseason and make final decisions on the 53 men who will be taking the field against Pittsburgh 10 days from now.
Disappointment aside, join us in the Purple Haze live chat beginning at 7:30 p.m. as we talk about our expectations for the regular season and get a head start on Pittsburgh week. For the quickest updates and analysis, follow WNST on Twitter and be sure to subscribe to the WNST Text Service for all breaking Baltimore sports sent directly to your mobile device.
Luke Jones
Luke Jones is the Ravens and Orioles beat reporter for WNST BaltimorePositive.com and is a PFWA member. His mind is consumed with useless sports knowledge, pro wrestling promos, and movie quotes, but he often forgets where he put his phone. Luke's favorite sports memories include being one of the thousands of kids who waited for Cal Ripken's autograph after Orioles games in the summer of 1995, attending the Super Bowl XXXV victory parade with his dad in the pouring rain, and watching the Terps advance to the Final Four at the Carrier Dome in 2002. Follow him on social media @BaltimoreLuke or email him at Luke@wnst.net.
Podcast Audio Vault
Right Now in Baltimore
Mussina: Pitching in on why the new ABS rules in MLB make sense
Our all-time favorite brother-of-a-Hall-of-Famer Mark Mussina returns to begin another baseball season but this one has been greatly altered – and improved – by "the system" getting the calls right. Moose joins Nestor to discuss umpiring, the strike zone and the new ABS rules in MLB and why it's quickly become hailed as one of the greatest improvements in the game in a generation.
Twelve Orioles Thoughts following series loss to Texas and 3-3 homestand
Samuel Basallo's long home run helped cap the homestand with a win on Wednesday afternoon.
Running back the success and impact of 'No Mean City: Baltimore 1966" with Dan Rodricks
If you missed the sold-out run of local newspaper legend Dan Rodricks' amazing play, "No Mean City: Baltimore 1966," it looks like you'll have another chance next year. The incredible success and rave reviews brought the longtime Baltimore columnist back to chat with Nestor about his observations about the time, place, baseball and storylines in our city that haven't aged – or changed – in some ways over the past 60 years.



















