The Ravens’ signature free agent signing in 2022, safety Marcus Williams, did not play vs. Browns in Week 8.
This season, safety Marcus Williams has struggled to play to the level that made him the Baltimore Ravens’ prized free agent signing in 2022. His struggles in 2024 ultimately led to the Ravens not playing Williams against the Cleveland Browns in Week 8.
“It was a personnel decision,” Harbaugh said after the game. “We’re kind of working through some things there which I feel very confident Marcus is going to be out there playing great football the rest of the season.”
The Ravens have repeatedly expressed their confidence in Williams returning to form, including defensive coordinator Zach Orr, who praised him before their Week 7 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“First thing, we still have the utmost faith and belief in [Marcus Williams]. He’s a safety, so on film and on TV and during the games, he’s the last line of defense, so it always looks like he might be at fault, but that’s far from the truth,” Orr said on Oct. 18. “He’s doing some good things. Obviously, just like a lot of our guys, he can play better, and he knows that, and he’s working at that.”
Against the Browns, the Ravens opted to play third-year safety Ar’Darius Washington in his place, who struggled to make an impact.
The Ravens signed Williams to a five-year, $70 million deal in 2022. If he cannot return to form, the Ravens may have to release him in 2025. That would incur a $13.446 million dead cap but create $5.277 million in cap savings, according to OverTheCap.