Baltimore Ravens center
Sam Mustipher: 80 snaps
Tyler Linderbaum: 59 snaps
Kurt Hinish, DJ Reader
The Baltimore Ravens have had to roll with a second center after Tyler Linderbaum left the first game of the season with an ankle injury. Linderbaum played almost the entire first game, more than Ronnie Stanley did in week one.
Still, he was mainly untested against the Texans four-man front. He saw a lot of Kurt Hinish, a UDFA in his second season. It was not a major test for Linderbaum, who looked like he may be taking a step in year two.
Then, Sam Mustipher came in for week two. The Bengals play different fronts and rely on their nose tackle much more. For Mustipher, this meant playing face-up against Reader but also seeing Zach Carter and Josh Tupuo.
Mustipher was strong in this game. He did not get out into the run game often and was not getting pushed, but the pocket was not getting pushed back by any of these names. The Baltimore Ravens made sure to sign a depth center with legitimate starting experience, and after week two, we saw exactly why.
Tyler Linderbaum: A
Sam Mustipher: A