The Ravens have yet another season-ending injury, and it's again on the offensive line.
Starting left guard Alex Lewis has aggravated a shoulder injury and it has not responded to treatment. He will have surgery next week, the team announced.
The Ravens had very high expectations for the second-year lineman, who started eight games last year between left guard and left tackle. Lewis is a big (6-foot-6, 315 pound), physical mauler.
The loss of Lewis leaves a hole at left guard, which was previously thought to be one of the team's strongest positions. The Ravens already lost Lewis' top backup, fourth-round rookie Nico Siragusa, to a season-ending knee injury earlier in camp.
Fifth-round rookie Jermaine Eluemunor started at left guard in Thursday night's preseason opener against the Washington Redskins and played well.
Baltimore's other option could be to shift newly-signed Austin Howard to left guard and leave James Hurst as the starting right tackle. Howard has started at right guard before.
The Ravens could look to fill the hole via free agency or trade as well.
Baltimore could also move Ryan Jensen to guard and find a new starting center. The team has been impressed with Matt Skura. Veteran Nick Mangold and former Raven Jeremy Zuttah, who was traded to San Francisco earlier this offseason but released this week, are both available.
This marks the team's seventh season-ending injury this summer: tight end Dennis Pitta (hip), cornerback Tavon Young (knee), running back Kenneth Dixon (knee), tight end Crockett Gillmore (knee), wide receiver Tim White (thumb), Siragusa (knee).
The team also lost center/guard John Urschel to retirement and tight end Darren Waller to suspension. Cornerback Maurice Canady (knee) will miss extended time but could come back later this season.
Quarterback Joe Flacco (back) and wide receiver Breshad Perriman (hamstring) have missed all and much of training camp practices, respectively.
