Stanley leaves Saturday's practice with "soft tissue" injury

BALTIMORE — Inching closer to the first preseason game, the Ravens saw rookie left tackle Ronnie Stanley leave the field with a “soft tissue” injury midway through Saturday’s practice at M&T Bank Stadium.
Head coach John Harbaugh would not disclose any other specifics about the injury, but Stanley is not expected to miss much time at this point. Baltimore’s preseason opener against Carolina is on Thursday night, so the 2016 first-round pick will only have a few days to recover if he’s to see action against the defending NFC champions.
Stanley’s status would certainly impact the decision of whether the Ravens will play starting quarterback Joe Flacco in the first preseason game, but the rookie wasn’t ruling out playing on Thursday and described himself as “perfectly fine” after practice.
“I’m not concerned,” said Stanley, who left the field with a member of the training staff after suffering the injury during a 1-on-1 drill. “Minor setback. It’s nothing major.”
With Stanley absent, the Ravens used rookie fourth-round pick Alex Lewis as their starting left tackle. Lewis has seen extensive time at guard this spring and summer, but he has played more tackle in recent days and received the nod over third-year tackle James Hurst when Stanley left the field.
Wide receiver Chris Matthews left the field shortly after practice began with what was also labeled a “soft tissue” injury.
“I don’t think they’re too serious,” Harbaugh said. “We’ll know more tomorrow. Just soft-tissue type issues.”
The Ravens started practice without 14 members of their 90-man roster. Cornerbacks Jimmy Smith (left leg) and Maurice Canady (undisclosed), wide receivers Chris Moore (foot) and Michael Campanaro, tight ends Dennis Pitta (finger) and Crockett Gillmore (hamstring), safety Matt Elam (undisclosed), and defensive linemen Timmy Jernigan (ribs) and Bronson Kaufusi (broken ankle) were not participating. Wide receivers Steve Smith (Achilles) and Breshad Perriman (knee), linebackers Terrell Suggs (Achilles) and Elvis Dumervil (foot), and running back Lorenzo Taliaferro (foot) remain on the active physically unable to perform list.