It was a long wait for rookie offensive lineman Emery Jones Jr., but the Ravens' third-round pick is finally ready to play.
Jones had shoulder surgery shortly after the Combine, which meant he missed all offseason practices. He returned to practice on Oct. 1 and has now been activated to the 53-man roster, giving him a chance to play as a rookie.
Ravens coaches have been clear that they don't believe he's ready yet. Jones just started taking pass protection reps in practice last week and Head Coach John Harbaugh said he won't suit up Sunday against the Chicago Bears. But Jones is getting closer.
"My shoulder is feeling well," Jones said. "It's holding up well outside, so I'm just going to keep attacking. It's in my rear view now, so I'm going to put it behind me and focus on [playing] ball."
On Wednesday, Jones told reporters that he had a virtual meeting with doctors on Tuesday and that they "pretty much" cleared him to play.
"It's been hard watching the guys practice," Jones said. "I've just been coming in here and lifting, keeping my head down, doing my treatment, doing everything I need to do to get back on the field. Now we're finally here after a long six [or] seven months."
While Jones was a student of the game all offseason, he said his first three weeks on the practice field have proven to him that he can "compete on this level."
Where he would play is still a question, as he was mostly a right tackle in college, but his best position as a professional may be at guard. With Ronnie Stanley and Roger Rosengarten at the tackle spots, Jones' clearest path to playing time (if everyone is healthy) could be at guard. However, Stanley has also missed time this season due to an ankle injury.
"Whatever they need me to play, whatever's going to get me on the field. Same kind of mentality I had at LSU," Jones said. "Whatever spot opens up for me, I'm going to attack the opportunity."
Robinson suffered a broken foot in the Ravens' Week 6 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, which Head Coach John Harbaugh said is expected to sideline him for six to eight weeks. Robinson is tied for the Ravens' lead in sacks with two.
"That's going to be an important factor for us on defense is filling those reps up, because Tavius is a really physical edge player, a real hard-playing guy, and we're going to need that to be no drop off, those reps that are taken," Head Coach John Harbaugh said Monday.
