The Baltimore Ravens appear to be headed into their Week 1 game against the Buffalo Bills without two key players. Tight end Isaiah Likely and fullback Patrick Ricard have not practiced in the week leading up to the game, and each has been absent from practice for long before this week. Likely has not been available since suffering a small fracture in his foot in late July, and Ricard’s last appearance was August 14.
Both Likely and Ricard are crucial pieces of Baltimore’s offense, especially in the run game. The duo are dominant lead blockers for All-Pros Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry. Without them, we may not see the historic pace from the rushing attack that we saw in 2024 against Buffalo. With Jackson and Henry, the team should still find considerable success on the ground, but they will need other players to step up in the absence of Likely and Ricard. One of those players whose role is as pivotal as ever is right guard Daniel Faalele.
Ravens' Week 1 fate may hinge on Daniel Faalele’s play
Without Likely and Ricard’s blocking prowess, Faalele is going to have to take his game to the next level. He already needed to take those steps in 2025, as he and fellow offensive guard Andrew Vorhees are unproven up front, but the injuries to two elite run blockers make his development much more urgent.
Faalele, despite being named a Pro Bowl alternate in 2024, was incredibly inconsistent throughout the campaign. He had moments of dominance, especially down the stretch of the regular season, but also showed to be a negative factor in the trenches at times. He finished his third NFL season with a 60.5 overall grade, per Pro Football Focus. However, it was also his first year at right guard, which could give reason for optimism heading into this year.
If Faalele does not show starting capabilities early, though, it could make an already tough matchup with the Bills even tougher. The run game is Baltimore’s bread and butter, and both Likely and Ricard helped shred through opposing run defenses and were prominent contributors to Henry’s most efficient season of his career, totaling 5.9 yards per attempt on 325 carries. Those are two fewer factors Buffalo will have to deal with, and their front seven could actually make the Ravens’ run game look human.
Baltimore's coaching staff has the utmost faith in Faalele this season and believes he will take the next steps to becoming a high-quality blocker. At 6-foot-8, 370 pounds, he looks the part to be an effortless lane clearer, but a combination of balance and overextension issues has kept him from reaching that potential. Maybe 2025 is the year for him, though, and Baltimore desperately needs to see that in Week 1.