The Baltimore Ravens season got off to a fantastic start with a 41-23 win over the Indianapolis Colts. Despite this excitement, injuries to wide receivers Zay Flowers and Ja'Kobi Lane put a little bit of a damper on the game. While Flowers' hamstring injury is considered day-to-day, Lane is expected to miss several weeks with a fractured wrist.
This is unfortunate news since Lane was primed to play a significant role in the Ravens' offense as a rookie. We got a glimpse of this during Sunday's game as he caught one pass for 11 yards; he also caught a touchdown that was called back due to a holding call.
Regardless, the question now becomes: Who will step up to fill the void Lane left behind? To me, the answer is Devontez Walker.
Yes, Walker doesn't have the exact same skill set, as he offers more speed, while Lane offers more size and contested-catch ability. Still, Walker has thrived in limited opportunities, and with the Ravens in need of some extra receiver production, he could put together a big-time stretch.
Why Baltimore Ravens WR Devontez Walker will take advantage of the opportunity in front of him
Head coach Jesse Minter made it pretty evident that the Ravens will be looking for their in-house options to take control of the available reps. That includes Walker.
"Tez Walker and [Elijah Sarratt], I got a lot of confidence in those guys. Those guys have had a ton of reps within our offense," Minter said. "Those two guys have a real opportunity to get themselves in rhythm."
As Minter mentioned, rookie Elijah Sarratt is another candidate to earn a bigger role in lieu of Lane's injury, but he was a healthy scratch in Week 1. Now, Walker sat out on Sunday with a groin injury, but it's not considered a serious injury by any means. As such, I primarily see this as a chance for Walker to prove himself in a bigger role.
For whatever reason, Walker never got a fair shake with the previous coaching staff. In two seasons, he saw just 11 targets in limited snaps. Walker has, however, made the most of his chances, reeling in four touchdowns.
With a new coaching staff, this could change in a major way. Besides simply getting a fresh set of eyes on him, offensive coordinator Declan Doyle is focused on airing out the ball more and has an affinity for explosive plays. We saw this system in action in Week 1, and Walker's skill set is a perfect match for this style.
For these reasons, I've always been bullish on Walker becoming an impact player in year three. After Lane's unfortunate injury, this possibility is clearer. Starting in Week 2 against the New Orleans Saints, I expect Doyle to draw up some deep passing concepts with Walker in mind. Based on what Walker has shown in limited opportunities, I fully expect him to take advantage of this increased role.
When it's all said and done, Walker could be another exciting player in an already elite Ravens' offense.
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