Ravens second-year offensive linemen Andrew Vorhees has been limited in practice
Leading up to Week 4, starting left guard Andrew Vorhees missed all practices and was designated doubtful for the Sunday night matchup against the Buffalo Bills. In his place, versatile offensive lineman Patrick Mekari started. And with said start, Mekari “hit for the offensive line cycle,” as left guard was the long spot across the line he’d not yet started.
The following week, Vorhees had returned to practice on Wednesday and Thursday in a limited capacity. The final day of practice he was a full participant and ruled “questionable” for Sunday’s tilt against the Cincinnati Bengals. But should the Ravens start Vorhees at left guard, or keep Mekari as their starter?
Mekari didn’t grade out well at left guard, earning his lowest overall grade and run blocking grade of the season in week 4, 48.7 and 51.2 respectively. In comparison, Vorhees, through three weeks, earned a 52.7 and 51.4 grade in the same respective categories. But while Mekari’s first two grades weren’t high, his pass-blocking grade was 78.1, 15 points higher than Vorhees’ pass-blocking grade this season.
With Vorhees practicing in full on Friday, it will be interesting to see how the Ravens run out their offensive line. With all three of Mekari, Vorhees and Roger Rosengarten, who performed mightily in his first career start, the Ravens will likely have to make a choice about the future of the line for the rest of the season.
If that’s the case, it should be a simple choice: if Andrew Vorhees and Roger Rosengarten are healthy, they should be starting. They are the future of the line, they are already penciled in as starters for 2025 at this point. They need the snaps now. Mekari is valuable, but his best role is the first backup, proven by him having a start at every spot. His ability to fill in at any spot is where his value lies, not as a long-term starter.