Tyler Linderbaum Returns to Ravens Practice
Ryan Mink, BaltimoreRavens.com
Ravens Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum is back on the practice field after missing much of training camp with a neck injury. He last practiced on August 1.
Linderbaum was wearing a red no-contact injury during individual drills.
Getting Linderbaum back in the middle of the Ravens’ offensive line is big news for a unit looking to finalize three starting spots and build momentum before the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, which is only 10 days away.
Tight end Mark Andrews has not returned to practice, however. He’s been sidelined since being part of a car accident on Aug. 14. Head Coach John Harbaugh said last week that it’s a “very minor thing.”
Safety Kyle Hamilton was also not on the practice field during the portion open to reporters Monday. Hamilton didn’t finish Thursday’s joint practice against the Packers, but Harbaugh said “it’s not a serious injury.”
Offensive Notes vs Packers Preseason Game 3
Ken McKusick, Filmstudy Baltimore
Cleveland (0/+1): Ben entered midway through the 2nd Qtr, played exclusively at LG, and avoided big mistakes. His only negative event was a pressure when beaten outside by DT Ester (Q3, 9:33). Of his 3 missed blocks, none were losses at the LoS. I charged him with a tough missed block when he pulled and ran into Leary who bobbled the snap on 4th/1 (Q4, 14:23). He had 1 block in L2 and delivered 2 pancakes. He connected on 1 of his 2 pulls. He had 3 highlights (combo, textbook stunt handoff, set-up/help block).
Scoring: 29 plays, 25 blocks, 3 missed, 1 pressure, 23 points (.79 per play). That’s a B- after adjustment.
Based on the early hooks, the Ravens seem set on starting Vorhees and Faalele at the guard spots for the opener. I don’t think it makes sense based on what I’ve seen on the field either now or in 621 career regular-season snaps for Cleveland prior to 2024.
Vorhees (0/-3): Andrew retired after 3 series (14 snaps) culminating with the Wallace TD. Despite pass blocking that has been below any reasonable standard for the position, I understand the Ravens desire to kick the tires on Vorhees to see if he can play this season solely based on the payoff if they are able to find a 4-year starter. He will be Warhop’s first big developmental challenge as the Ravens OL coach.
2024 NFL Preseason Week 3 rookie grades: Drake Maye shows promise; Carson Steele shines
Chad Reuter, NFL.com
Roger Rosengarten
Rosengarten is competing to start at right tackle, but he’ll need to improve on his mediocre play against Green Bay to hold onto the job when he gets his chance. Packers edge rusher Brenton Cox Jr. easily shed the second-round pick to chase down a running back inside on Baltimore’s first play. On the second series, Rosengarten failed to reach-block a 3-technique on a run play, resulting in a tackle for loss. Cox knocked the rookie back with a strong punch on a third down, forcing quarterback Josh Johnson to unload a pass short of the sticks. Rosengarten did a better job of holding his ground against Cox and others in the second quarter but was inconsistent in his kick-slide, at times crossing his feet to stay with his man. The former Washington Huskie was certainly a willing run-blocker, whether crashing the edge to provide a lane or taking out a defender in space when leading on an outside toss in the mid-second quarter.
Grade C
Ten thoughts on Ravens’ pending roster decisions as cutdown day looms
Jeff Zrebiec, The Athletic
I expect DeCosta to be active over the next three days in looking at external options to improve the back end of the roster. Whether that’s making waiver claims, engineering a small trade or even signing a street free agent, there are different ways to do it. In talking to a few sources outside the building, they believe DeCosta will be aggressive, particularly in trying to improve the team’s offensive line depth. It wouldn’t surprise me if we see a repeat of 2017 when the Ravens made small trades for center Luke Bowanko and guard/tackle Tony Bergstrom right around cutdown day. I don’t expect that they’ll be able to acquire a guy who is going to start in Week 1 — who is trading starting-caliber offensive linemen at this time of year anyway? — but I could see them trying to upgrade the eighth and ninth offensive line spots.
Harbaugh and special teams coordinator Chris Horton have said on a few occasions that veteran Deonte Harty will be the team’s returner, so the assumption has been that he’s a roster lock. However, Harty missed a lot of practice time this summer and was unable to get much going on the few returns he did get in preseason games. Harty has a track record, and the bet here is that Harbaugh and Horton will lean on that. Still, carrying an exclusive returner potentially costs a roster spot for a guy who would contribute more as a receiver, like Anthony Miller.
Ravens 53-man roster projection as final cuts loom: ‘Important evaluations’
Brian Wacker, The Baltimore Sun
Offensive line (10)
Ronnie Stanley, Andrew Vorhees, Tyler Linderbaum, Daniel Faalele, Roger Rosengarten, Patrick Mekari, Ben Cleveland, Josh Jones, Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, Tashawn Manning
This is another position that’s been complicated by injury, with Nick Samac, who was pushing to be the backup to Pro Bowl center Linderbaum, getting hurt Saturday.
Harbaugh didn’t have an update on Samac’s condition afterward, but the rookie seventh-round pick was carted off the field after being helped to the sideline with what looked to be a leg or lower-body injury. Before that, he likely would have made the roster; now he could be headed to injured reserve.
That could also mean that Manning, who has shown improvement after spending his rookie year on the practice squad, ends up making the team.
Safety (5)
Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Eddie Jackson, Sanoussi Kane, Beau Brade
Washington can and has been playing safety most of the summer, but with Maulet’s injury, he’s more likely to shift into that role.
Kane and Brade, meanwhile, have flashed and been physically attacking the ball, so one or both figures to stick around.
Because of Washington’s ability to play safety, the Ravens could easily get away with keeping just four. This likely will come down to Kane, Brade and Worley battling for one or two spots — and special teams could be the determining factor. The Ravens really like Worley’s physicality on special teams, but he’s a vested vet and they can play the practice squad game with him like they did last year.
Or, the Ravens might decide to keep just nine offensive linemen and sign a veteran free agent to provide depth.