The Baltimore Ravens gave updates on a few players’ injury statuses on Monday, perhaps none more significant than left tackle Ronnie Stanley.
And although head coach John Harbaugh didn’t specifically indicate what the update was, it isn’t hard to read between the lines and figure out what he might have meant.
Harbaugh insisted that the Ravens are “nearing a resolution” on Stanley’s status when asked on Monday. That sure doesn’t sound like a positive update, especially when coupled with a roster move the team made.
The Ravens claimed offensive tackle Brandon Knight off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys on Monday furthering the notion that they’re planning to be without Stanley for the remainder of the season.
Again, no official confirmation has come from the team, although we will likely hear one later this week. But it’s hard to take Harbaugh’s comments as anything other than an alarming update.
The Ravens might be without Ronnie Stanley for the remainder of the season
The All-Pro left tackle suffered a devastating ankle injury in Week 8, just days after signing a contract to become the highest-paid offensive lineman in the NFL.
Stanley spent the entire offseason rehabbing and was held out of both training camp and the preseason, but he was able to make his return for the team’s Week 1 matchup with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Unfortunately, it quickly became apparent that Stanley was a shell of his former self in that game. Something clearly wasn’t right — and it had a direct impact on his performance.
Stanley has not played since that Week 1 game and has been rendered a game-day inactive every week since.
The Ravens could have placed him on the injured reserve, but there wasn’t really a need for a roster spot seeing as they’ve carried fewer than 53 players on the active roster for almost the entire season to this point.
Harbaugh insists that the team will reach a resolution soon. It appears as though they’re ready to make a decision about his long-term future, at least as it pertains to 2021.
And if I were to guess, I’d venture to say he’ll probably undergo some sort of season-ending ankle surgery.
The Ravens might be without Ronnie Stanley for the foreseeable future, and we should receive clarity on his situation very soon.