The Baltimore Ravens started the preseason chunk of the summer as everybody expected: winning a football game, as it's now been the case for 24 matchups straight.
Baltimore defeated Philadelphia 20-19 with the Ravens flipping a three-point halftime deficit into a one-point victory in a comeback effort launched by incumbent QB2 Tyler Huntley on Saturday.
Huntley got things started in the third frame with a 10-yard touchdown pass to Tylan Wallace following a 7-yard scoring toss by Josh Jonhson caught by Devin Duvernay earlier in the game. Justin Tucker, the GOAT kicker, hit a monster 60-yard field goal and a 43-yarder to add six more points to the Ravens' score on the day, making it a square 20.
Are Ben Cleveland's days in Baltimore numbered?
Let's not sugarcoat this topic because we're reaching a point where a particular player is simply running out of excuses to earn a starting gig in the Ravens' offensive line: Ben Cleveland's days are numbered in Baltimore.
Jalen Carter’s first snap in the NFL went well 👀
— PFF (@PFF) August 12, 2023
pic.twitter.com/ezheUDrUBv
If you opened Twitter (or X, or however it's called these days) you probably saw a clip making the rounds and becoming viral. It wasn't precisely because of Cleveland's prowess, and more because of Philadelphia Eagles' 2022 no. 9 draft pick Jalen Carter's exquisite skill set, but still.
If you didn't watch the clip above, enjoy it. If you want more, here you have another saucy angle. And in this one, it is very clear who Carter absolutely ditched on his way to forcing Josh Johnson to throw the ball away in order to avoid the sack.
Jalen Carter is a monster
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) August 12, 2023
pic.twitter.com/zPngUre9j7
In a few words: Cleveland didn't even know what was coming, let alone what happened or how to stop Carter.
Ben Cleveland is not the most experienced of guys, mind you. He's just about to turn 25 years old next week. He's a 2021 third-round pick. He's been on the field for only 459 snaps through his two-year, 21-game pro career.
Carter, of course, is a rookie. Carter is 22 years old. Carter, in the play shown above, was taking part in his first competitive NFL snap. Sheesh, the optics.
Baltimore won't cut Cleveland (most probably) but odds are he has to eat chicken wings sitting on the bench while waiting to get some reps here and there. It's starting to look like Cleveland is running out of time to prove his talent at this level, and that's assuming he's not already completely out of the 53-man picture.