A list of Ravens who stand to gain with a good preseason performance against the Atlanta Falcons.
The Baltimore Ravens second preseason game kicks off at noon on Saturday with and there are a few players who stand to gain significant standing with a good performance, be it a starting role, making the 53-man roster or calming the storm of fans hand-wringing for an upgrade.
QB Josh Johnson
It’s been a rough training camp for the veteran quarterback. With Lamar Jackson out the first week of camp, Johnson took the helm against the Ravens’ standout defense and mistakes were punished. Off-target throws or bad decisions weren’t innocently hitting the grass or going incomplete, they were being picked off and capitalized on. Then, in the first preseason exhibition against the Philadelphia Eagles, Johnson’s performance didn’t ease the critics, going 4-of-12 passing for 62 yards.
A good game from Johnson would lighten the outside noise and further the Ravens’ positive support of their backup quarterback.
OL Daniel Faalele
Since organized team activities, the Ravens’ 2022 fourth-round pick has been working in at guard, a new position he’s been grasping with inconsistent success. The Ravens need their offensive line to be in tip-top shape come Week 1 against the Kansas City Chiefs, and they are wanting for Faalele to “get it.”
If Faalele can get out of his stance quicker and get to his blocks, he’s their starter. He’s bigger and stronger than nearly anybody on the gridiron. He’ll be in a strong position if he can perform against the Atlanta Falcons.
OT Roger Rosengarten
Excitement brewed for the Ravens when they landed Rosengarten in the second round of the 2024 draft. He had great traits and the Ravens believed the areas he lacks could be honed quickly. After earning more reps throughout camp, he’ll be a player all are watching in hopes of becoming the Ravens’ starting right tackle. If not, they have super-sub Patrick Mekari, but the team much prefers to keep Mekari as their sixth-man to fill in when a player goes down due to his one-of-a-kind versatility.
Rosengarten must show he can anchor in pass protection and move bodies in the run game for Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry come the regular season. Doing so against the Falcons could demonstrate he’s ready.
OL Darrian Dalcourt
There are only one or two undrafted rookies who could earn a 53-man roster spot this season due to the overwhelming majority of incumbents across the board; Dalcourt is in the minority capable of making the roster. When center Tyler Linderbaum went down with injury, the Ravens tested Dalcourt at center. He and Mekari have rotated in, along with Ben Cleveland.
It is an uphill battle to make the Ravens’ roster. But if Dalcourt can deliver a solid game, get blocks into the second level and snap cleanly when working at center, the Ravens will want to keep him. Offensive line depth is key for any team hoping to make a run.
OLB David Ojabo
It’s been a lengthy journey for Ojabo. He all but redshirted his first season, playing 21 defensive snaps his rookie season after returning from a torn Achilles in 2022, only to suffer a season-ending ACL tear in 2023 three games into the season. Ojabo was not found on the field against the Eagles in the first preseason game after it being revealed he was not cleared to play by team doctors. The hope is he will be cleared against the Falcons.
Ojabo’s begun begun to stack practices in training camp the past week. He’s done well throughout camp but there’s been better play the past few. Bringing such momentum against the Falcons and delivering a good game would stand to benefit himself, the team who needs their young rushers to develop and produce and keep the critics and concern at bay.
RB Owen Wright
The third running back spot on the roster is up for grabs, which wasn’t the expectation when the Ravens drafted Rasheen Ali in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft. Ali hasn’t delivered the best camp and the team is wanting to see more from him. That’s given Wright opportunity to make a case for himself and he’s outperformed Ali in camp.
Wright delivered a strong performance against the Eagles and if he can outperform last week’s respectable numbers (seven carries, 33 yards, 4.7 yards per carry), there’s a shot the Ravens hang onto Wright not just on their practice squad last season, but on their 53-man roster.
Anthony Miller
On August 11, the Ravens signed wide receiver Anthony Miller, their second veteran wide receiver addition in a short span. For Head Coach John Harbaugh, the additions are about “playing the opportunities.”
Miller entered camp with fresh legs. He has made the most of them, too, with multiple impressive camp performances, from downfield deep ball receptions to winning one-on-one reps.
It’s fair to ask how much of his play has to do with being fresh while everyone else has been competing for a month? Are others more worn down after enduring multiple weeks of practice in three-hour, 90-degree practices, or is he just healthy and can help the Ravens offense?
Far too often, the Ravens will have a player in camp shine only to finish a preseason game with a meager stat-line of two catches for a dozen or so yards and relinquish to obscurity. It’s on Miller to prove he’s not one of those and give the Ravens a reason to keep him as an extra receiver and special teams player.