With the NFL regular season just a few weeks away, roster battles are becoming more intense by the day. The Baltimore Ravens are one team that has most of their roster set, but a litany of injuries has opened up several opportunities for those who were on the outside looking in earlier this offseason.
One area where Baltimore is searching for depth is at defensive back. Injuries to rookies Bilhal Kone and Robert Longerbeam have allowed undrafted rookies and fringe-roster players to have a chance to carve out a role on the 53-man roster. The team still has one of the best defensive back rooms in the league, but they will need another guy or two to fill the voids of their sixth-round selections.
Reuben Lowery is one defender who has been making plays all offseason. An undrafted free agent out of Tennessee at Chattanooga, the rookie defensive back was facing an uphill battle coming into Baltimore. But now, his playmaking ability in the secondary has made him impossible to ignore.
With Kone and Longerbeam out for the season, Lowery has the opportunity for more reps. He played a lot of cornerback in college, but also plays safety, another position where the Ravens could use some help with Ar’Darius Washington out for a good chunk of 2025. This week has been a golden opportunity for Lowery, and he has not let it slip away.
Reuben Lowery is forcing his way into the 53-man roster conversation
The Ravens forced only 17 turnovers in 2024, an area where the defense struggled last season. Since joining the team, Lowery has consistently generated interceptions and continued to disrupt the passing offense this past week.
Practice just wrapped. Tyler Loop went 7-for-9, missing from 46 early and from 48ish on a rushed attempt late.
— Jonas Shaffer (@jonas_shaffer) August 13, 2025
Reuben Lowery had another nice day, driving on two passes as a safety for PBUs.
Mike Green also ended practice with nice wins vs. Carson Vinson in a pass rush drill.
He has been taking more and more reps at safety in training camp, and it seems like that will become his home at the NFL level. At just 5-foot-9, Lowery would be severely undersized at corner. He has a more realistic shot at playing safety at the professional level. There, he is competing with second-year pros Sanoussi Kane and Beau Brade.
Where Lowery has an advantage is his playstyle. He has been a key factor as a deep safety, showcasing elite ballhawking traits. As for Kane and Brade, the two play somewhat similar roles. They each tend to play downhill, making big hits closer to the line of scrimmage. The two could be competing against each other, allowing Lowery to potentially secure a spot on the roster.
However, Lowery must start contributing on special teams. That is the key to making the roster on a John Harbaugh-coached team. In that aspect, Kane and Brade have the leg up. They took on that task in their rookie years, earning the trust of the coaching staff in regular season action.
As the Ravens enter Week 2 of the preseason against the Dallas Cowboys, Lowery must take advantage of the opportunity that lies ahead. Harbaugh mentioned most of the starters will not play, and with the injury bug impacting the team, Lowery should have more reps on the table on Saturday night. He is showing out in camp, but now it is time to do it under the lights.