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Alex Lewis out for the year, Ravens offensive line needs answers

By Chris Schisler

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 23: Sheldon Richardson #91 of the New York Jets in action against Alex Lewis #72 of the Baltimore Ravens during their game at MetLife Stadium on October 23, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - OCTOBER 23: Sheldon Richardson #91 of the New York Jets in action against Alex Lewis #72 of the Baltimore Ravens during their game at MetLife Stadium on October 23, 2016 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /
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According to multiple reports, Alex Lewis will miss the entire 2017 season. This is a devastating injury for the Baltimore Ravens:

The Baltimore Ravens have a lot of news coming out today, but the biggest headline is the loss of Alex Lewis for the 2017 season. Lewis’s injury was the devastating injury that the purple and black couldn’t afford. The Ravens have now lost three potential starters on their offensive line. First, John Urschel retired. Next, Nico Siragusa went down with a season ending injury. Now Lewis is out of the picture for the entire season.

The way things are going Ozzie Newsome may want to wrap Marshall Yanda and Ronnie Stanley in bubble wrap until the regular season. These injuries are getting out of control and now the offensive line needs answers. Two of the three left guards on the Ravens first depth chart are now out for the year. The Ravens have 13 offensive linemen still in the picture, but that number will be a lot smaller after training camp.

Nothing is set on the offensive line, other than Ronnie Stanley at left tackle. Marshall Yanda is a perennial Pro Bowl player at guard, but he could end up at right tackle. There could be a good bit of musical chairs from the offensive line.

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Baltimore is starting to pay for neglecting the offensive line this offseason. Rick Wagner went to the Detroit Lions in free agency and Newsome didn’t rush to find his replacement. They drafted two offensive linemen and one of them is already sidelined for the season.

The Ravens need to make a move:

There is no getting around a move now. The Ravens have no choice, they have to add to the offensive line. Nick Mangold has been floated around as an option for months. The San Francisco 49ers released Jeremy Zuttah, and things are bad enough to justify bringing him back. When the Ravens traded Zuttah away, it seemed like they were quite willing to part with him. Brandon Albert, who could become available would be an interesting player for the Ravens to go after.

The best options aren’t in the free agency market at this point of the year. That’s why a trade isn’t unfathomable. It will be interesting to see if the Ravens try to solve their problem via trade.

When the Ravens get to the regular season they will have to get the offensive line figured out. Lewis is no longer part of the blueprints for the season. This is a position group on the Ravens roster that has a great deal of unanswered questions. When you look at all the long-term injuries the Ravens have suffered. the injury to Lewis has been the worst one. When you look at the Ravens roster, it’s hard to find solutions that don’t involve a signing or a trade.

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