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3 players the Baltimore Ravens can ill afford to lose to injury

By Ian Schultz

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 25: Outside linebacker Matt Judon #99 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates a sack by running off of the field against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 25: Outside linebacker Matt Judon #99 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates a sack by running off of the field against the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /
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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 25: Outside linebacker Matt Judon #99 of the Baltimore Ravens sacks quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MARYLAND – NOVEMBER 25: Outside linebacker Matt Judon #99 of the Baltimore Ravens sacks quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders during the fourth quarter at M&T Bank Stadium on November 25, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images) /

With training camp set to begin Thursday in Owings Mills, injuries are an inevitability. Here are three players the Ravens can ill afford to lose.

The Baltimore Ravens are set to get the journey to the 2019 Super Bowl underway officially on Thursday in Owings Mills as the team will conduct their first training camp practice. Unfortunately we all know that injuries are an inevitability in the NFL.

The most irreplaceable Ravens is Lamar Jackson. Any team that loses their starting QB in the NFL would be in a difficult spot to recover and produce a winning season. But there are several other players that the Ravens can ill afford to lose for any extended period of time.

1) Matt Judon

In a point that has been discussed throughout the entire 2019 off-season, the Ravens are very thin at pass rusher. Gone are Terrell Suggs and Za’Darius Smith and the voids left by those two pass rushing talents will need to be filled by a cast of Shane Ray, Pernell McPhee, Tyus Bowser, Tim Williams, and rookie Jaylon Ferugson.

If that group doesn’t leave you confident in the Ravens pass rush, you’re not alone. Since that is the case, it is imperative that Judon remains healthy and prodcutive throughout the 2019 season or the Ravens would need to heavily rely on the creativity of defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to generate pressure.

Entering his fourth NFL season, Judon is coming off of a seven sack season and has amassed 19 sacks over his first three seasons in the NFL. Judon could see double teams throughout the season if another pass rushing option doesn’t emerge but in contract year there are no excuses for him not to produce 10+ sacks.

The Ravens can’t afford to lose Judon and they also can’t afford for him to a down season unless other pass rushers overachieve. Judon might be the most important Raven this season.

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