We warned you this AM, and the Baltimore Ravens made the official announcement ahead of the weekend after their final practice on Friday: it's going to be a matchup against the Indianapolis Colts without 10 (ten) starters.
10 Ravens starters OUT Week 3 Sunday vs. Colts
— Ebony Bird (@Ebony_Bird) September 22, 2023
Plus starters on IR:
- JK Dobbins
- Ar'Darius Washington
- Tyus Bowser https://t.co/GX7vUYemGF
If you want to find a positive in that never-ending list of names, allow me to save you a few seconds by telling you there is no way you can end up there. Sorry.
Perhaps the only optimistic angle after injured reports were dropped Friday is the fact that the Colts won't have QB Anthony Richarson nor C Ryan Kelly, both ruled out for Sunday with concussion symptoms.
Per Coach Steichen, QB Anthony Richardson and C Ryan Kelly have been ruled out for #INDvsBAL.
— Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) September 22, 2023
These reports are simply crazy. We're closer to watching a Triple-A game than a Major League Football matchup this weekend, aren't we?
The Ravens, on top of the players listed in their Friday report, won't have the trio of players they have placed on IR so far this season, including RB J.K. Dobbins, OLB Tyus Bowser, nor recent IR-placement nickel CB Ar'Darius Washington.
That makes it seven plus three, equal ten. 10. TEN. TEN. Starters out for Week 3, is what we mean.
The Colts are in a somewhat better position, but not that impressive either. First and foremost, their starting quarterback and freshest no. 4 overall pick Anthony Richardson will miss his first game as a pro on Sunday.
Starting C Ryan Kelly has also been ruled out with self-reported symptoms forcing him into the NFL concussion protocol, which he didn't clear in time.
Veteran DT Grover Stewart has been cleared to play after fully practicing on Friday and for the third time this week after being limited on Wednesday and Thursday.
However, three other Colts players are questionable to play on Sunday including CB Dallis Flowers, CB Kenny Moore II, and G Quenton Nelson.
Those are three pillars of the Indianapolis lineup, so the Colts are simply facing a hella stronger opponent (even weakened by injuries) and also facing many health woes themselves.
And hey, even Mother Nature is trying to make things look even worse or, at the very least, windy and rainy. Sheesh.