Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is doubtful to play in Sunday’s game against the Packers. If that’s the case, how will the Ravens’ offensive line look?
Stop if you’ve heard this before, the Baltimore Ravens have to shuffle around the offensive line.
Just when you thought the Ravens could go a week without any notable injuries, bad news strikes. Second-year left tackle Ronnie Stanley is doubtful to play this week. Stanley has been in concussion protocol after suffering the injury against the Titans in Week 9. It’s even more concerning that he’s had a bye week to recover and still isn’t ready to play.
Stanley is one of the Ravens’ most promising and talented players. He’s by far the best player on the offensive line and has proved that in his two seasons. But with Stanley out, the Ravens are forced to play musical chairs with the offensive line, something they’ve been familiar in past seasons.
So what will the offensive line look like come Sunday? Here’s my best guess.
LT: James Hurst
LG: Jermaine Eluemunor
C: Ryan Jensen
RG: Matt Skura
RT: Austin Howard
James Hurst will likely kick out to left tackle and rookie Jermaine Eluemunor will slot in at left guard. It’s not an ideal situation but it’s one of the only options the Ravens have to work with.
The Ravens also have guard Luke Bowanko, who they traded for before the start of the season. He came in late against the Titans when Stanley was out for a series with an injury. He’s got more experience than Eluemunor but that hasn’t seemed to matter. When given the choice, Eluemunor has been called upon. If you’re keeping track that’s three undrafted players, a fifth and sixth-round draft pick starting on the line. It’s certainly not the plan Ozzie Newsome envisioned this season but it’s the reality the Ravens are left with.
If there’s any saving grace with the injury news, it’s that the Packers aren’t as much of a threat up front compared to most teams. They currently rank just 25th in NFL with 18 total sacks on the season. The front seven hasn’t been a huge threat but that’s not something the Ravens can take for granted. It’s not like they’re putting up an All-Pro offensive line of their own. We probably won’t know the look of the offensive line until pregame warmups Sunday afternoon. I’d put my money on an Elumemunor start but you never know. We might even see a rotation throughout the game, who knows.
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All I know is that whoever starts Sunday has to give Joe Flacco ample protection in the pocket if the Ravens want any offensive production come Sunday. On the road in a hostile environment, it’s a tough task no matter who your opponent is.