Two games down, one to go in the preseason as the Ravens ponder their initial 53-man roster with final cuts looming next Tuesday.
This latest look at the roster still weighs track record, contract status, draft standing, and positional needs in addition to what we’ve seen in two preseason contests and training camp. I currently project 49 players comfortably on the 53-man roster, leaving four spots to fill. Not all bubble players are on equal footing, of course, with certain position groups lacking established depth and others having so much talent that the numbers game could squeeze out someone otherwise deserving of a roster spot.
Though general manager Eric DeCosta, head coach John Harbaugh, and the rest of the staff and front office remain cognizant of numbers at each position, trying to arbitrarily pick a certain number of wide receivers or outside linebackers isn’t always the most authentic way of filling out a 53-man roster. The Ravens value reserves who excel on special teams, so they’ll look carefully at other traits in addition to what individuals bring to their offensive or defensive position groups when filling out the bottom of the roster.
The numbers in parentheses indicate how many players are projected to stick on the 53-man roster at each position. As we move deeper into the preseason schedule, I’ll provide updated projections all the way to final cut-down day on Aug. 26.
QUARTERBACKS (2)
IN: Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: none
LONG SHOT: Devin Leary
Skinny: The only question for this position group is whether the Ravens have seen enough from Leary to keep him on the practice squad for another fall or explore other options that shake loose next week.
RUNNING BACKS (4)
IN: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell, Rasheen Ali
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: none
LONG SHOT: Myles Gaskin, D’Ernest Johnson
Skinny: Harbaugh said after the Dallas game that the current plan is to keep four running backs, which was good news for Ali’s roster chances. Still, the current health picture in the secondary and the performance of other bubble players in Saturday’s preseason finale could alter that vision.
TIGHT ENDS & FULLBACKS (4)
IN: Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: none
LONG SHOT: Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Scotty Washington, Baylor Cupp, Lucas Scott
Skinny: Much like with Marlon Humphrey’s foot surgery two years ago, the Ravens aren’t going to place Likely on injured reserve if he has any chance of returning over the first four weeks of the season. None of the young tight ends on the roster have shown enough to warrant 53-man roster consideration when you could always elevate one from the practice squad for a game or two if needed.
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WIDE RECEIVERS (6)
IN: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: none
LONG SHOT: Dayton Wade, Anthony Miller, Keith Kirkwood, Malik Cunningham, Jahmal Banks, Xavier Guillory
Skinny: With Wester having all but wrapped up the punt returner job a couple weeks ago, the only real question here is which wide receivers the Ravens will want to retain on their practice squad. Walker has had a good summer, but game-day opportunities could be scarce when considering the trio at the top of the depth chart and the special-teams contributions of Wallace and Wester.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)
IN: Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Joseph Noteboom, Ben Cleveland, Corey Bullock, Carson Vinson
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: Garrett Dellinger, Nick Samac, Darrian Dalcourt
LONG SHOT: Gerad Lichtenhan, Jared Penning, Reid Holskey
NON-FOOTBALL INJURY LIST: Emery Jones Jr.
Skinny: Bullock making a second straight preseason start at center looks like sufficient evidence to put him on the roster, especially with Dellinger, Samac, and Dalcourt not making a particularly strong push with their play in recent weeks. Harbaugh all but confirmed Jones, a 2025 third-round pick out of LSU, will remain on the NFI list to open the season, which is a disappointing outcome when acknowledging how shaky the offensive line depth looks after Noteboom and Cleveland.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5)
IN: Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Aeneas Peebles, John Jenkins
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: Brent Urban, C.J. Okoye
LONG SHOT: C.J. Ravenell, Adedayo Odeleye, Jayson Jones
Skinny: In the past, we’ve seen the Ravens take advantage of Urban being a vested veteran not subject to waivers, so it’s easy to envision him being re-signed to the practice squad and elevated for an early game or two before evaluating what the roster looks like by late September or early October. Though Okoye has been a good summer story, the practice squad still looks like the most appropriate place to continue his development.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4)
IN: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan, Jake Hummel
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: Jay Higgins
LONG SHOT: Chandler Martin, William Kwenkeu
Skinny: The long-term injury to Adisa Isaac could open the door for Higgins to secure a roster spot for special-teams purposes, but the bet here is that DeCosta is confident about getting at least one of Higgins and Martin — who’s also played well in the preseason — through waivers and to the practice squad. Simpson, Buchanan, and Hummel will be busy on special teams this season after Malik Harrison and Chris Board led the Ravens in special-teams snaps last year and departed via free agency.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS (5)
IN: Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, David Ojabo
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: none
LONG SHOT: Malik Hamm, Kaimon Rucker
INJURED RESERVE DESIGNATED TO RETURN: Adisa Isaac
Skinny: Though Ojabo’s limited presence on special teams still leaves him in danger of being a healthy scratch many weeks, Isaac’s injury should make the 2022 second-round pick all but a lock to make the roster. A Baltimore native, Hamm was a good story making the 53-man roster a couple years ago before injuries derailed him, so you hope he can stay healthy and continue developing on the practice squad.
CORNERBACKS (6)
IN: Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, T.J. Tampa, Jalyn Armour-Davis
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: Keyon Martin
LONG SHOT: Marquise Robinson, M.J. Devonshire, Thomas Graham
SEASON-ENDING INJURED RESERVE: Bilhal Kone, Robert Longerbeam
Skinny: With the top four cornerbacks wisely being held out of preseason action, Martin and Robinson have taken advantage of extensive summer snaps to present themselves as attractive options for the practice squad. Considering the injury history of Alexander, Awuzie, and Armour-Davis, however, you could understand the Ravens finding room for Martin if they’re worried about losing him via waivers.
SAFETIES (5)
IN: Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane, Reuben Lowery, Beau Brade
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: none
LONG SHOT: Desmond Igbinosun, Keondre Jackson
PHYSICALLY UNABLE TO PERFORM LIST: Ar’Darius Washington
Skinny: Not only has Lowery done everything he can to win a 53-man roster spot as a depth option at safety and the nickel position, the undrafted rookie from Tennessee-Chattanooga has seemingly moved past Brade in the safety pecking order. That said, Brade played more than 200 special-teams snaps in 11 games last season, and the Ravens have quite a few defensive backs who don’t project to contribute on special teams, which could preserve his roster spot.
SPECIALISTS (3)
IN: Jordan Stout, Nick Moore, Tyler Loop
WRONG SIDE OF THE BUBBLE: none
LONG SHOT: none
Skinny: Loop was officially named Baltimore’s kicker after Saturday’s 5-for-6 effort against Dallas, but the real pressure is right around the corner for the talented rookie kicker out of Arizona.
