7 Winners, 3 Losers from the Ravens’ preseason loss to the Eagles

Who gained and lost ground following the Ravens’ last-second preseason loss to the Philadelphia Eagles?

The Baltimore Ravens’ suffered their first loss of the 2024 season by way of a last-second 49-yard field goal from Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott. But regardless of the 16-13 final score, much more is important with regard to who improved their status toward making the 53-man roster and earning starting roles.

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Winners

RB Owen Wright — The Ravens gave the starting nod not to their fifth-round rookie running back Rasheen Ali, but Wright, who has made a strong case throughout training camp to win the No. 3 role. Wright finished with seven attempts for 33 yards, good for a 4.7 yards per carry average, and added another 17 yards on one reception. To go along with his statistical production was an impressive blitz pickup on a 3rd & 10, where Wright didn’t hesitate with a sprinting backer surging through the gap. Had Wright been a split-second later to the play, quarterback Josh Johnson was in for a crushing sack. Wright shared practice had prepared him for the play, adding, “I think it’s easier to pick up [in a game] than [in] practice, honestly, because of our defense.”

LB Trenton Simpson — Expectations for Simpson are high as he’s been granted the opportunity to become the Ravens’ No. 2 linebacker beside Roquan Smith. Tonight, he was given the responsibility of the “green dot,” in a first both for him and Defensive Coordinator Zach Orr, calling the defense. Simpson finished as the game leader in total tackles (11) and solo tackles (5).

Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh said he liked what he saw from Simpson.

“[I saw] a lot of great stuff,” Harbaugh said. “He flies around. I promise you — he’s not happy with the way he played. He thinks he can play a lot better. …He’ll be looking to improve between now and next week, but that’s a good start for him.”

CB Nate Wiggins — It was a first defensive drive to remember for the No. 30 overall pick as Wiggins accumulated three pass breakups in one drive, including back-to-back pass breakups on 3rd & 8 and 4th & 8 for a turnover on downs.

Unfortunately, Wiggins’ suffered a shoulder injury in the second half and did not return from the locker room. After the game, Harbaugh did not provide an update on Wiggins’ status.

S Sanoussi Kane — Flying around on special teams is what both Harbaugh and General Manager Eric DeCosta wanted to see from Kane upon drafting him and he delivered. Twice, Kane was the first player Eagles punt returners encountered and he came through with challenging open-field tackles. In the second half, Kane suffered a stinger injury and was eventually downgraded to out for the contest.

P Jordan Stout — With a paltry offense finishing 2-for-12 on third down, with both coming in a single drive, the Ravens got an extended look at both their punt coverage unit and Stout’s craft. Stout finished with an average of 51.5 yards, with his longest punt on the night traveling 64 yards. On one punt, Stout sent one back deep and after Eagles returner Britain Covey forced four missed tackles, the punter came up to and delivered the play-ending tackle after 26 return yards.

OT Roger Rosengarten — Anchoring has been an ongoing learning experience for the second-round rookie in training camp. At times, he holds his own, but the Ravens’ starting edge rushers have bested him more than the Ravens’ brass would like. Tonight, Rosengarten stood his ground, showed mobility and opened a running lane for Johnson on a 9-yard scramble.

OT Patrick Mekari — Both Rosengarten and Mekari are vying for the the open right tackle position on the Ravens offensive line and Mekari didn’t give up ground in tonight’s performance. The Ravens see him as a viable starter at right tackle along with their super-sub backup across all five positions if necessary. But his performance against the Eagles keeps him within the Harbaugh’s desire to play “the best five players” on their offensive line.

Losers

Backup Quarterbacks — The Ravens are keen on keeping Johnson as their No. 2 quarterback, but his performance tonight left much to be desired. He played the first half and the Ravens finished with 109 net yards and went 0-for-5 on third downs. He finished the night going 4-of-12 for 62 yards and a quarterback rating of 51.4.

But Johnson isn’t in a heated competition for the No. 2 role as rookie quarterback Devin Leary’s night was equally uninspiring, finishing 6-of-10 for 37 yards.

Both quarterbacks were sacked once. Neither tested the Eagles’ secondary; though in fairness, the Eagles didn’t test the Ravens’ much either.

But for their struggles, it was undrafted rookie Emory Jones whose single offensive snap had the worst result. After Eagles kicker Jake Elliott rung his second kick of the night off an upright on a 50-yard field goal attempt, Jones took the field with 19 seconds remaining in the 13-13 game. Jones was immediately strip-sacked by Eagles pass rusher Patrick Johnson, who recovered the fumble at the Ravens’ 32-yard line. And bestowed with a second chance, Elliott knocked through the game -winning 49-yard field goal as the time expired.

RB Rasheen Ali — The biggest critique of Ali coming out of the draft was his ball security. He held onto the rock well in his 10 carries for 26 yards (2.6 YPC), but nearly fumbled his first kick return. After a 31-yard bursting return, Ali lost the football as he hit the ground. Fortunately, he was ruled down and wasn’t credited with a turnover.

RG Daniel Faalele — Throughout training camp, Faalele has been taken the lion’s share of reps at starting right guard. He’s been inconsistent in camp, but it’s been chalked up to him learning the new position. Against the Eagles, Faalele wasn’t porous, but his speed was lacking. When pulling, he needed to get around the line faster to seal a lane for the ball-carrier. Faalele will need to show significant improvement to earn the starting role.