Ravens: Ronnie Stanley returns to practice on Monday

Heads up, Baltimore Ravens fans. Offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley attended practice for the first time since November, which is more good news following Lamar Jackson’s recent recovery and return to camp.

On Monday, Stanley was at training camp practice participating in drills after coming off the team’s PUP (physically unable to perform) list.

The first-team All-Pro star suffered a season-ending ankle injury last year in Week 8 against the Steelers. Two surgeries and more than half a year later, Stanley looks ready to perform, giving Baltimore enough time to gradually up his workload and ease him into the offensive line.

And by “enough time” we mean a month, when the Ravens face the Las Vegas Raiders in their season-opener on September 13.

The clock is ticking.

Stanley’s presence in the Ravens’ offensive scheme is just as important as Jackson’s, and it’s very convenient that the two are taking the field again around the same time.

In the past three days, Stanley, Jackson, Gus Edwards, and Rashod Bateman have all returned to action, not to mention new signing Justin Houston flexing his muscles out there as well. That means the Ravens’ first team can finally practice together and work on that passing game they’ve been so keen on improving this offseason.

Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley is back and right “on schedule”

Coach John Harbaugh expressed his joy (and relief) about Stanley’s return and said the tackle was “very much on schedule.” Could Stanley be even better than before?

We certainly hope his durability doesn’t go away. Since joining the Ravens, Stanley has played and started all 61 games prior to his ankle injury.

Stanley also has back-to-back PFF pass-blocking grades of at least 90.0 in the past two seasons, allowing his quarterback to be hit or sacked just three times in his last 719 snaps. He signed a five-year contract extension last October and the Ravens want to keep him at all costs – he is, after all, Jackson’s primary blindside protector and one of the main reasons the Ravens have led the league’s top rushing attack the past two years.

Currently, Baltimore has slightly adjusted their O-line by moving Bradley Bozeman to center and adding veteran free agents to cover the right side.

When Stanley got injured last year, the Ravens slid Orlando Brown over from right tackle to replace him. God forbid Stanley misses more time this season, the Ravens can technically play Alejandro Villanueva in the left tackle position, but let’s not hope it comes down to that.

We probably won’t see Stanley featured much in preseason as the Ravens continue to handle him with as much caution as possible. Stanley might be labeled with an all-caps “FRAGILE GOODS” sticker right now, but he’s just getting ready to carry the O-line for a Super Bowl run.

It’s good to see him back.