The Baltimore Ravens are still a ways away from Week 1 of the regular season. They just started OTAs last week and have plenty to accomplish in the coming months. It’s a new age after all, and undoubtedly, we’re going to learn a lot about who this team is under new head coach Jesse Minter.
Still, it’s hard for fans not to look forward to the 2026 campaign. It’s been exciting times in Charm City ever since the Minter hire, and with the schedule release a couple of weeks in the rearview mirror, hype has continued to build.
In Week 1, the Ravens will kick off the Minter era against the Indianapolis Colts on the road. For the Colts, there’s uncertainty around Daniel Jones’ status as he’s coming off a torn Achilles. However, he appears to be trending in the right direction. He was throwing at OTAs on Wednesday.
JUST IN: Daniel Jones is throwing at Colts OTAs less than six months after he tore his Achilles. pic.twitter.com/P9qn26PMzT
— WISH-TV News (@WISHNews8) May 27, 2026
If Jones suits up in the season-opener, that could make things more difficult for Baltimore.
Baltimore Ravens’ season-opener could get more complicated amid Colts’ injury update
The Ravens’ Week 1 test was already going to be complicated. They’re going to have to navigate the twists and turns of entering the year with a first-year head coach, and while Jesse Minter is a talented defensive mind, there’s no telling how he’ll transition to being a head coach. Throw in the fact that Baltimore has an overwhelming question mark at center, and they could have a difficult start to the year.
Now, the Colts might be throwing Daniel Jones into the equation. Kicking off 2026 against a backup quarterback likely would make for an easier season-opener. A matchup against a quarterback who went 8-5 last year, though? That would be tough.
It sounds like Jones expects to be ready for Week 1, too. Sure, it’s a bit of a bold goal to set, but with about three and a half months left before then, it’s certainly feasible. He should have more than enough time to ramp up his recovery to be in the best position possible ahead of Week 1.
Of course, there’s also a realm where this could also be good news for the Ravens. There’s no telling how Jones will look if he does suit up in that matchup. It’s fair to assume that he could look a step slower, maybe not as confident, and overall, find struggles in his first start since the serious leg injury. And with Jesse Minter calling the plays on the defensive side of the ball, he could make Jones’ life a nightmare.
Still, there’s no doubt that Jones would give the Colts the best shot to win in Week 1. Anthony Richardson Sr. hasn’t turned the corner like they were hoping for, and Riley Leonard had a very rough go of it in five appearances in his rookie campaign. I mean, when you pull a 44-year-old Philip Rivers out of retirement last year, it’s crystal clear that you don’t have trust in your backups.
Ultimately, if Jones plays, regardless of whether the Achilles is still affecting him or not, he could give Jesse Minter some slight problems in his head coaching debut.
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