The Baltimore Ravens kicked off their 2023 NFL season against the Houston Texans. This year was considered one of the Ravens most anticipated seasons in recent history due to the offense being revamped with players such as Odell Beckham Jr., Nelson Agholor, and Zay Flowers. The defense remains solid with star linebacker Roquan Smith leading the pack and newly acquired edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney following behind. Baltimore now has names that should induce success.
The Ravens pulled off a Week 1 victory by defeating the Texans with a score of 25-9, but injuries proved paramount. Running back J.K. Dobbins has a torn Achilles, ending his season for the third time in three years. Safety Marcus Williams has a torn pectoral and will surely miss several weeks. Center Tyler Linderbaum suffered a sprained ankle and left tackle Ronnie Stanley has a sprained knee. Although injuries are a part of the game, the Ravens do not have enough depth to withstand them. The ability to stay healthy will be a big determining factor as to whether or not the Ravens will succeed in the AFC this season.
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3 Players That Need to Stay Healthy For the Baltimore Ravens
Ronnie Stanley
Left tackle Ronnie Stanley is one of the most important players on the Ravens roster. Tabbed as Lamar Jackson’s best protector, Stanley will need to stay on the field. Standing 6′-6″tall and weighing 315 pounds, Stanley is a fantastic pass blocker and a very good run blocker. Stanley was selected by the Ravens with the sixth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and made an immediate contribution to the team. Stanley was on his way to stardom and then injuries began to set in.
In 2019, Stanley was named a first-team All-Pro and was voted to the Pro Bowl. The following season, Stanley played six games before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Stanley was able to make it back on the field for the start of the 2021 season. Unfortunately, he suffered a severe ankle injury in the season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders. After a healthy year in 2022, Stanley will be relied upon to elevate the Ravens offensive line.
Odell Beckham Jr.
The Baltimore Ravens signed wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to a one-year deal this off-season, hoping to catch lightning in a bottle. Beckham Jr. was a heavily pursued free agent before choosing the Ravens. Baltimore has a young receiving core and does not have any other veteran wide receivers on the roster, leaving the three-time Pro Bowler to be a leader on and off the field. Beckham Jr. is still a talented player, but now at 30 years old, it remains to be seen how productive he is. Before injuries, Beckham Jr. was considered one of the best receivers in the league.
Odell Beckham Jr. has a long injury history that the Ravens hope to avoid. In 2017 as a New York Giant, Beckham Jr. suffered a severely fractured ankle that ended his season. After recovering and having back-to-back semi-healthy seasons, Beckham Jr. tore his ACL as a Cleveland Brown in 2020. Beckham Jr. spent the early part of 2021 with the Browns before signing with the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. As a Ram, Beckham Jr. made it to the Super Bowl where he tore his ACL once more. After sitting out the entirety of the 2022 season with the injury, Beckham Jr. is back catching passes. With the Ravens, Beckham Jr is one of the most important players on the team and will need to stay as healthy as possible for Baltimore to compete in the AFC.
Marlon Humphrey
Marlon Humphrey is one of the best cornerbacks in the league today. Evidence is Humphrey’s third straight appearance on the NFL’s top 100 list. Humphrey is excellent in coverage, intercepting 12 passes in his six-year career; He is also a sure tackler and a newfound menace to quarterbacks, amassing three total sacks last season. Most ball-hawking safeties are not as physical as Humphrey yet he delivers both finesse and physicality.
Before the start of this season, Humphrey underwent foot surgery for an injury sustained in practice. In the Week 1 matchup against the Houston Texans, running mate Marcus Peters tore his pectoral muscle, putting pressure on Humphrey to return sooner than later. The Ravens clearly needed Humphrey’s services, as the defense gave up 242 passing yards to rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud in his very first NFL game. If Baltimore plans to have a formidable defense, Humphrey will need to be on the field.
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Main Photo: Mitch Stringer – USA Today Sports
