Wagner named starting right tackle to begin 2014 season

OWINGS MILLS, Md. — A position debated for much of the offseason has a resolution with the start of the season just under three weeks away as Ravens head coach John Harbaugh named Rick Wagner his starting right tackle following Monday’s practice.
The news was anticlimactic considering Wagner has received nearly all first-team reps since the start of training camp with fourth-year lineman Jah Reid working as the second-string right tackle. Wagner has held up well in his first summer working with the starting unit, earning compliments from coaches and teammates alike.
“He’s earned it. He’s earned that spot,” Harbaugh said. “And Jah has earned the third spot. Jah has done a heck of a job, too, as far as working his way into the third tackle spot.”
It remains to be seen whether the Ravens will elect to keep rookie offensive tackle James Hurst, an undrafted free agent from North Carolina who has worked as the backup left tackle behind Eugene Monroe in practices. In the event of an injury to Monroe, the Ravens could shift Wagner to left tackle with Reid moving into the right spot if they only elect to keep three tackles.
After so much discussion over who would replace former right tackle Michael Oher in the offseason, Wagner has gone largely unnoticed in practices this summer, which is a good thing at a position where most attention tends to be negative. Wagner played 41 snaps against San Francisco in the opener and 30 snaps against Dallas on Saturday night.
As a fifth-round rookie out of Wisconsin last season, Wagner served primarily as a blocking tight end in jumbo package situations.
“He’s been solid. Solid is the next step before being good, and good is the next step before being great,” Harbaugh said. “He’s on his way in a lot of ways. He has plenty of things to work on, but he does not make mistakes twice. He’s a good athlete. [Defenses have] tried to bull-rush him and go after him that way, and he has not really been moved too much at all. I’m proud of him.”