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BALTIMORE — With what will likely be their final opportunity to showcase their final units this summer, the Ravens hope to prove they’re on track for the start of season with their opener in Denver only two weeks away.
Coach John Harbaugh intends to play most starters the entire first half against the Carolina Panthers, with certain veteran likely being removed late in the first half and others potentially playing into the third quarter. If the last few years are any evidence, the Ravens will not play most of their starters in next week’s preseason finale in St. Louis.
Many eyes will be veterans Brandon Stokley and Dallas Clark, who are expected to receive extensive playing time against the Panthers after signing one-year deals with Baltimore following the first preseason game. The wide receiver position will be of special interest with as many as six healthy wide receivers taking extensive reps with the first-team offense over the last week of practice.
Right guard Marshal Yanda and cornerback Lardarius Webb were both active and were expected to receive their first preseason action of the summer. According to CBS Sports, Webb was only expected to see playing time in a limited capacity. Both linebacker Elvis Dumervil and defensive tackle Marcus Spears were suited up and going through warmups after returning to the practice field earlier in the week.
A surprise inactive was outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, who practiced all week and hadn’t appeared to be dealing with any specific injury.
Running back Delone Carter was inactive a day after being acquired from the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for wide receiver David Reed.
Thursday marks the sixth time the Ravens and Panthers have met in preseason action with Baltimore holding a 4-1 advantage. These teams last met at M&T Bank Stadium in 2006, which was a 23-21 victory for Carolina thanks to a big day by current Panthers receiver Steve Smith.
The Ravens will wear purple jerseys with white pants Thursday night while Carolina will wear white jerseys and white pants for the third preseason game of the summer.
Here are Thursday night’s inactives:
BALTIMORE
RB Delone Carter
TE Ed Dickson
TE Dennis Pitta
WR Deonte Thompson
OL Ryan Jensen
LB Jameel McClain
LB Pernell McPhee
DE Kapron Lewis-Moore
CAROLINA
WR Armanti Edwards
WR Joe Adams
RB Jonathan Stewart
FB Mike Tolbert
FB Michael Zordich
G Edmund Kugbila
OT Bruce Campbell
TE Ben Hartsock
WR Domenik Hixon
DE Mario Addison
DT Frank Kearse
Be sure to follow WNST on Twitter throughout the evening as Glenn Clark, Nestor Aparicio, and I bring live coverage from M&T Bank Stadium.
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.
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