The preseason is all about the players who can move up and down the roster with their play. It is one last chance for fringe roster players to prove themselves and make the team. The Baltimore Ravens always have a deep roster, which brings exciting competition when making the 53-man roster.
Who are some Ravens players that may have used the preseason to boost their roster status?
4. Daryl Worley is officially a lock to make the Baltimore Ravens roster
Daryl Worley has done everything you can ask for him to make the Ravens roster. At this point, it does seem clear. In preseason week one, it was not. However, he played every snap on defense and played special teams, showing that he would leave it all on the field for his team.
Then, in preseason week two, he started next to Geno Stone, who made his return to the field. Stone and Worley took a few series, and then they were rested so that the depth could play. This shows us that he is on the same tier as Stone now. They are the two primary backups, and the Baltimore Ravens are for sure going to keep four safeties.
DeAndre Houston-Carson joined Jeremy Lucien as the fifth and sixth safeties, and neither did anything to come close to Worley. It helped that both Brandon Stephens and Ar'Darius Washington had to move from safety to cornerback due to the injuries. Still, Worley held down this spot, showed his value, and when he got a chance to win a job, he took it. He deserves a 53-man roster, and he will get one next week.
3. Tylan Wallace secured a roster spot with the Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens needed Tylan Wallace last year, and he could not be healthy for them, so they decided to make sure they did not need to rely on him again. With that in mind, they pushed him from someone who could have played a ton last season to a potential sixth wide receiver, who will only be active on gamedays if he can provide on special teams.
However, Wallace has done everything you can ask a sixth receiver to do, and it is hard to see him missing the roster now. His main competition was Laquon Treadwell, James Proche, and Dontay Demus.
Demus is a rookie UDFA, so he had a long hill to climb. He missed some days at practice and never established himself in the competition. Proche has worn out his welcome and has done nothing in the last couple of weeks to improve his roster status.
Lastly is Treadwell, who was competing hard with Wallace. Treadwell played well on special teams in preseason week one, helping his chances immensely. However, he had an injury this week and missed the game. Wallace not only made the case with special teams play, he caught his second touchdown of the preseason. He is younger and more cost-controlled than Treadwell. It was a good competition, but after the last preseason game, it will be hard for Treadwell to make up that ground.
2. Patrick Ricard earned his roster spot with the Baltimore Ravens this year
Entering the preseason, there have been questions about Patrick Ricard and whether he will even make the Ravens roster. Todd Monken does not use the fullback in the manner that Greg Roman did, and it will make Ricard much less valuable. So, at his salary, was it worth having someone who contrasts the offense, or should they just cut ties now? He is coming off an injury as well, so no one knew if he would be ready to go.
When he returned to the practice field, the Ravens gave him work on the offensive line, signaling the team needed to see him do more than just play fullback. That experiment did not last long, but we saw on Monday how they could get him an extra role.
Almost every snap that Ricard played was flexed out on the offensive line as an extra tight end. The chip help of a tight end helps passes get further down the field due to the time created. This is more valuable to a passing offense than a run-blocking fullback. So, this could be the role that keeps Ricard on the roster.
When you look at the Ravens tight ends, you have Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, and Charlie Kolar. All of them can be classified as stronger pass catchers than blockers. So, the Ravens need one of their tight ends to help as a blocker, and that person is officially Patrick Ricard.
1. Can Josh Johnson beat out Tyler Huntley as the Baltimore Ravens backup quarterback?
A lot of Baltimore Ravens fans do not want to admit it, but Josh Johnson is closer to Tyler Huntley for the backup quarterback than you realize. First, there are plenty of cap-related reasons to make the move. More than that, Todd Monken has expressed it is a competition because he wants the right fit for the new offense. Josh Johnson has the better arm to push the ball down the field.
We saw that in the second preseason game when Johnson laid out a few strikes over the middle to both Charlie Kolar and Travis Vokolek. He underthrew a pass in the end zone for an interception, but a lot of that can be placed on the pressure immediately given up by Sala Aumavae-Laulu. If anything, it may have cost him a starting job and not a roster spot for Johnson.
Johnson started over Huntley in week one, and Huntley missed week two with an injury. The fans like Huntley, but the coaches have to be giving an edge to Johnson the past two weeks. With just one week to go, Huntley is not a roster lock. He has a week to get healthy, or Johnson will win by default. Even if he does get healthy, Johnson will be tough to beat out in the coming days.