Pundit Looks at How Ravens' Roster Could Change Before Trade Deadline
The Ravens' roster is in flux, as players work their way back from injuries and the team's decision-makers look at potential personnel moves that could help turn the season around.
Three key players dealing with injuries practiced Monday: inside linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), left tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle), and fullback Patrick Ricard (calf). Quarterback Lamar Jackson (hamstring) did not, but he still has time to ramp up before Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.
Personnel moves could include outside additions, elevations from the practice squad, and changes to the starting lineup. As Head Coach John Harbaugh said recently, "everything's on the table."
The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer looked at how the roster could change before the Nov. 4 trade deadline. Here are some excerpts:
A fourth outside linebacker
"With Odafe Oweh traded to the Los Angeles Chargers and Tavius Robinson set to join Adisa Isaac on injured reserve, the Ravens have just three healthy outside linebackers on their 53-man roster: Kyle Van Noy, Mike Green and David Ojabo. Even with Trenton Simpson's inside-outside versatility, that's not enough. The Ravens will need to add help this week, ideally from outside the organization. They could also promote undrafted rookie Kaimon Rucker or Baltimore native Malik Hamm from the practice squad."
LG Andrew Vorhees and RG Daniel Faalele
"The Ravens' 'tush push' failures in Week 6 could be the catalyst for a shake-up along the offensive line. … Although Faalele has generally been more reliable than Vorhees in pass protection since 2024, his limitations as a run blocker are glaring. Vorhees, meanwhile, had a strong showing in Week 6. Offensive Line Coach George Warhop said Tuesday that both guards 'get better every week,' but the bye offers a natural reset point if the Ravens want to give Ben Cleveland or Corey Bullock a shot at right guard."
CBs Chidobe Awuzie and Jaire Alexander
"With the Ravens' defense seemingly returning to three-safety looks, snaps at cornerback will be hard to come by. Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey, when healthy, are every-down players. Awuzie, who returned to practice from a hamstring injury last week, had been a regular starter through Week 4 — but Kyle Hamilton's return to the slot in Week 6 pushed Humphrey back out wide for a majority of his snaps, where Awuzie primarily lines up. Alexander, meanwhile, was active against the Rams, operating as an insurance policy in case of injury, but didn't play a snap. If Alexander's not even in the mix for playing time in dime personnel (six defensive backs) after the bye, could he and the Ravens be headed for a mutual divorce? Plenty of contenders need cornerback help, and General Manager Eric DeCosta would save at least $2 million if he's off the roster by Week 10."
Ravens Bring in Former Bengals Edge Carl Lawson for Workout
As part of the Ravens' ongoing search for depth at edge rusher, they brought in veterans Carl Lawson and Jesse Luketa for workouts, per the league's personnel notice via The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec.
The Ravens are very familiar with Lawson, who played with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2017-2020. Lawson, 30, also spent time with the New York Jets and Dallas Cowboys and has made 34 starts. He had a career-high seven sacks with the Jets in 2022 and has had at least five sacks in all five seasons in which he played at least 12 games.
Luketa, 25, has appeared in 31 games over three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. He had a career-high three sacks in 10 games last season.
Justice Hill Is Ravens' Unsung Non-Starter
ESPN’s beat writers named the unsung non-starter for the team they cover, and running back Justice Hill was Jamison Hensley's pick.
"Derrick Henry is the headliner of the Ravens' backfield, but Hill is the go-to back in passing situations," Hensley wrote. "He is a trusted pass protector and a capable pass catcher. Since 2023, Hill is tied for third on the Ravens with 88 receptions. He also averages 9.4 yards after the catch, which is the most by a Baltimore player with at least 50 catches since 2023. General Manager Eric DeCosta has even called Hill 'one of the unsung heroes' on the team."
This season, Hill is fourth on the Ravens in receiving yards with 144, and his 71-yard touchdown run against the Kansas City Chiefs last month is Baltimore's longest play from scrimmage.
