We're not even 24 hours away from Week 2 kick-off time on Sunday when your Baltimore Ravens will face the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
This is the NFL we're talking about, so every edge you can get over your rival and every tiny detail of your playbook that you can hide until the last minute is something you can never stop doing. Ask coach John Harbaugh.
Baltimore waited until the final minute (the deadline is set at 4 p.m. ET on the day before the game) to announce their final roster moves ahead of Week 2, which they did on the verge of the deadline on Saturday.
We have activated C Sam Mustipher and RB Melvin Gordon III from the practice squad for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) September 16, 2023
As expected, the Ravens added Pro Bowler running back Melvin Gordon to their gameday roster, comprised of 53 men, for Sunday. day roster. He joins Gus Edwards and Justice Hill as the third member of Baltimore's backfield.
This move was obvious following the season-ending injury suffered by J.K. Dobbins in the Week 1 matchup against Houston. The rusher tore his Achilles and he's out for the season, which means he might have played his last game for the Ravens as he was in the final year of his rookie contract.
Owings Mills native Sam Mustipher has also been added to the 53-man roster given his status as the lone natural center in the roster outside of ruled-out starter Tyler Linderbaum.
Patrick Mekari is expected to take charge of the left tackle position in replacement for the ruled-out Ronnie Stanley.
This might be the most damaging absence among players injured in Week 1 considering Stanley's value to the Ravens offense both on pass and rushing plays. However, Mekari is one of the better veteran backup linemen in the line, so that'd at least soften the blow a bit.
And hey, "No excuses!" said Lamar Jackson.
On a positive note, both Linderbaum and Stanley avoided getting placed on IR, which means they remain week-to-week and won't be forced to skip the next four weeks. That's still pending confirmation, though, with the team not forced to make any public announcements ahead of the game in that regard.
That's also the case for S Marcus Williams, who the Ravens could place on IR making him ineligible until Week 6 at the earliest if he's deactivated prior to Week 2 kick-off.
That timeline might even be optimistic considering Williams' pec muscle injury is probably going to keep him out for a month if not for the season or close to the playoffs.
Baltimore Ravens injury report
- Mark Andrews – Full Participant Friday - Questionable
- Marlon Humphrey – DNP Friday - Out
- Tyler Linderbaum – DNP Friday - Out
- Ronnie Stanley – DNP Friday - Out
- Marcus Williams – DNP Friday - Out
Cincinnati Bengals injury report
- Chris Evans – Limited Friday - Questionable
- Markus Bailey – DNP Friday - Questionable
- Joseph Ossai – Limited Friday - Questionable
- Cameron Sample – Full Participant Friday
- Logan Wilson – Full Participant Friday
- Daxton Hill – Full Participant Friday
- Joe Burrow – Full Participant Friday
- Chidobe Awuzie - Limited Friday
Baltimore Ravens next 5 opponents
- Indianapolis Colts, Sunday, Sept. 24
- Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 1
- Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Oct. 8
- Tennessee Titans, Sunday, Oct. 15
- Detroit Lions, Sunday, Oct. 22