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Baltimore Ravens: Their top 3 biggest problems

By Dustin Cox

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 17: Offensive guard Marshal Yanda #73 of the Baltimore Ravens holds in ankle before exiting the game with an injury against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 17: Offensive guard Marshal Yanda #73 of the Baltimore Ravens holds in ankle before exiting the game with an injury against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 17, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 30: Brent Urban #96 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his blocked field goal that lead to a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 30, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore won the game 33-27. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 30: Brent Urban #96 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates his blocked field goal that lead to a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on November 30, 2015 in Cleveland, Ohio. Baltimore won the game 33-27. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Injuries continue to pile up.

Every team in the NFL has to deal with injuries every season. The amount the Ravens deal with is absolutely absurd though. It’s week 4 and the Ravens already have 17 players on injured reserve. Several of these players are key contributors such as Marshal Yanda, Alex Lewis, Brent Urban, Tavon Young and Kenneth Dixon. Depth has been destroyed by injuries at many positions, particularly the offensive line. The Ravens also had to release starting tight end Dennis Pitta after he suffered his third hip injury, and emerging star linebacker Zach Orr was forced to retire because of a newly discovered spinal condition.

Brandon Williams has missed two games already and will most likely miss more with a foot injury. He is one of the most important pieces to this defense, as we’ve seen the last two weeks. The defensive line is down two of three starters right now after Brent Urban suffered a Lisfranc injury in London. RB Danny Woodhead will miss several more weeks until he is eligible to return from IR later in the season. The Ravens could use him on a struggling offense.

The injuries won’t stop here.

There are sure to be several more season-ending injuries this season. It’s only been four weeks. NFL teams are all about the “next man up” mentality but there comes a point where the injuries are just too much. The Ravens finished the 2015 season with a pitiful record of 5-11 because of injuries to several key players. I’m scared injuries will derail this season as well. It already has in some ways. We can keep saying next man up but eventually, there won’t be a next man at this rate.

Next: Baltimore Ravens: is Joe Flacco holding the team back?

No quick fixes.

The Ravens could make a trade for an offensive lineman but that would cost future draft picks most likely. Something Ozzie Newsome hates to lose. The Ravens will fight until the end no matter how many injuries pile up though. Players like Mike Wallace, Breshad Perriman, James Hurst and Matt Skura will have to up their game. The team is counting on players like these. Stay patient Ravens fans. Issues such as these can’t be fixed overnight. Let’s just hope the Ravens find a way to move past all of this and still find success in 2017.

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