6 Ravens in line for more playing time in the 2022 season
By Justin Fried
1. Trystan Colon, C, Ravens
The first two players we’re going to look at are entirely dependent on other roster moves this offseason. While neither of these players is guaranteed to receive more playing time in 2022, there’s a chance both could be counted on as starters.
The first of which is young offensive lineman Trystan Colon. Colon was signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent following the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent much of his rookie season on the practice squad, although he did make a pair of starts due to the team’s COVID-19 outbreak.
Colon returned in 2021 and served as the team’s backup center making a surprise start when Bradley Bozeman missed Week 16 due to an illness.
With Bozeman seemingly unlikely to return, the Ravens could turn to Colon (or Patrick Mekari for that matter) in search of their Week 1 starting center if they don’t make any external additions.
It’s far from a guarantee, but it is plausible.
2. Ben Mason, FB, Ravens
The same could be said for Ben Mason’s situation. Mason was re-signed last month after spending most of his rookie season bouncing between practice squads.
The Ravens originally drafted Mason in the fifth round of last year’s draft to serve as insurance behind Patrick Ricard, and potentially his future long-term replacement.
Mason didn’t stand out much, and with Ricard recovering quicker than expected, the Ravens simply released the former Michigan standout in hopes that they could re-sign him to the practice squad. That didn’t happen.
Now Mason is back, and with a reported significant gap between the Ravens and Ricard in extension talks, it’s very possible that the younger Mason is the team’s Week 1 fullback in 2022.