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Three things to watch for as Ravens take on Texans

By Ian Schultz

BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after the game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - SEPTEMBER 13: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after the game against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 12: Defensive end J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans works out prior to the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 12, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – JANUARY 12: Defensive end J.J. Watt #99 of the Houston Texans works out prior to the AFC Divisional playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on January 12, 2020 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /

2) Watt about J.J.

Despite injuries plaguing three of his last four seasons, Justin James Watt is still putting the finishing touches on what promises to be a HOF career.

Watt finished his last healthy season with 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles in 2018 and is far and away the Texans best defensive player. The biggest thing that Watt does on a consistent basis is force you to identify where he is on each play.

That’s just the first drive of the game. Watt was held without a sack in the opener but did provide 2 QB hits for a Texans defense that lacks other play-makers. Another thing to monitor ahead of Sunday’s match up with the Texans is the health of Ravens left tackle, Ronnie Stanley who left the season opener with an ankle injury and did not practice Wednesday despite John Harbaugh’s classification of the injury as “not serious” after the game on Sunday.

While it is entirely possible that Stanley returns to the practice field Thursday and/or Friday, it’d be a huge loss if the Ravens had to deal with Watt without their All-Pro left tackle. D.J. Fluker was adequate at best filling in for the injured Stanley and the Ravens don’t really have a ton of other options if Stanley can’t go.

One idea that has been floated around is moving Orlando Brown Jr. to left tackle for the game and kicking out rookie right guard Tyre Phillips to RT and sending Fluker to right guard. I personally am not interested in changing three things to fix one issue.

Let’s just hope that Stanley is ready to go come 4:25pm on Sunday.

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