The Baltimore Ravens are closing in on their preseason opener. Training camp is one thing, but an actual game where you’re allowed to go all-out and batter the opponent means so much more. For Vega Ioane, the stakes are even higher.
The preseason will be Ioane’s first real NFL test. He’s obviously gotten crucial reps with the first team in the offseason program and training camp, and he’s shown everything he needs to show in those chances. However, the entire game changes when it’s a different team lining up on the other side of the line of scrimmage.
On Thursday, head coach Jesse Minter announced that Ioane will start on Saturday against the Philadelphia Eagles. That’ll be a golden opportunity for him to prove himself early on.
Baltimore Ravens fans will get their first look at Vega Ioane in preseason opener
The Ravens had a flat-out terrible offensive guard duo last year. Daniel Faalele and Andrew Vorhees weren’t reliable whatsoever, leading to a significant overhaul along the interior. Vega Ioane is expected to be the centerpiece of that shift.
It’s unclear how much time in the preseason spotlight Ioane will get. He was listed as a starter on the team’s first unofficial depth chart, so it’s probably fair to assume Minter will be cautious with him. In fact, the first-year head coach noted that he’s comfortable with Ioane getting “a little bit” of action—maybe that’s an indicator that it’ll only be a couple of drives.
However, Ioane is still just a rookie. If he’s going to be the game-changer for Baltimore’s interior offensive line that many are hoping he is, relying on practice reps isn't going to cut it. He needs to see a good chunk of in-game action to hit the ground running once the regular season rolls around.
And if that action against Philadelphia helps him iron out the kinks for real NFL debut in Week 1 against the Indianapolis Colts, then the Ravens could be getting a dangerous piece up front.
At his best, Ioane is an anchor in the pass game. He simply doesn’t allow too much pressure to leak through, as made crystal clear by his awesome 2025 season at Penn State, where he didn’t allow a single sack or quarterback hit. Over his entire college career, he only gave up three sacks (including back-to-back campaigns from 2024 to 2025 in which he allowed zero sacks).
Baltimore isn’t expecting to get that version of Vega Ioane so quickly. If he can start tapping into his sky-high ceiling with a strong preseason opener, though, the offense should be in a comfortable situation in 2026.
Ioane won't fix the offensive guard struggles by himself—others need to pick up the slack, too. Nonetheless, the 2026 first-round pick will bring a massive boost and should keep Lamar Jackson upright.
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