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The Baltimore Sun
7 Ravens with most at stake entering Saturday’s preseason finale at Packers
By Brian Wacker, Baltimore Sun,
2024-08-23
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Anthony Miller during training camp at the Ravens' training facility. Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/TNS
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The last time the Ravens and Packers played, Aaron Rodgers was Green Bay’s quarterback, Lamar Jackson was sidelined with a sprained ankle and the Packers held on to win, 31-30, in a key late-season victory on Dec. 19, 2021, at M&T Bank Stadium.
There of course will be much less at stake for Saturday afternoon’s preseason finale at Lambeau Field. Most of Baltimore’s regular starters won’t play, just as they haven’t in the first two preseason games. The outcome will merely — and importantly — shift the Ravens’ focus to the regular season, with a rematch of the AFC championship game against the Kansas City Chiefs to open the season looming less than two weeks away.
Still, it will provide one last opportunity for players on the bubble to impress coaches before the roster is trimmed to 53 players on Tuesday.
With that in mind, there will be a few key things to watch for, from the offensive line to the backfield to the secondary and elsewhere. Here are the Ravens players with the most at stake as the preseason draws to a close.
Offensive lineman Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu
Remember when Aumavae-Laulu was touted as a possible starter at left guard during his rookie year last preseason?
After not playing a snap all season, he hasn’t challenged for either opening at guard. In fact, Baltimore using him at tackle in the second half of last week’s game against the Atlanta Falcons could be a sign of uncertainty in terms of where he best fits. He seems to be firmly on the bubble.
What could work in Aumavae-Laulu’s favor, though, is that he might not have a lot of competition as a backup guard.
Running back Rasheen Ali
A fifth-round rookie out of Marshall, Ali has been wholly unimpressive in the preseason with just 26 yards on 10 carries and his longest run going for 5 yards. He has also struggled in short-yardage situations and missed time because of a stinger.
Owen Wright, in his second year after going undrafted and spending last season on the practice squad, has outplayed Ali, but not by much.
It’s possible the Ravens decide to carry just two running backs on their active roster with Derrick Henry and Justice Hill, but unlikely. Baltimore is reticent to cut draft picks — though they did so with last year with fifth-round cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly — and that could perhaps play into the decision when it comes to choosing between Ali and Wright.
Inside linebacker Josh Ross
Ross’ roster spot could come down to how Baltimore decides to use the versatile Malik Harrison.
To wit, if the Ravens can get meaningful contributions from David Ojabo and rookie Adisa Isaac on the outside, then they could keep Harrison on the inside at off-ball linebacker, thus lessening Ross’ chances of making the roster. If they need to move Harrison back outside as a dependable edge setter who can also rush the passer, then keeping Ross, along with special teams ace Chris Board, on the inside behind Trenton Simpson and Roquan Smith makes sense.
Isaac suffering another soft-tissue injury certainly helps Ross’ chances.
Cornerback Damarion ‘Pepe’ Williams
Williams doesn’t land here so much because of his play, but because of the dynamics of the Ravens’ defensive backfield.
Baltimore already has a handful of slot defenders, and though Williams has outperformed Ka’Dar Hollman, the latter provides special teams versatility and experience that Williams does not. Still, a good performance Saturday could help bolster his chances.
So does veteran Arthur Maulet being injured.
If Maulet ends up having to go on injured reserve because of his knee injury, he would have to miss at least the first four games of the season. If he doesn’t, that could be a strike against Williams’ chances.
Safety Sanoussi Kane
Speaking of injured players, Kane has been sidelined with a stinger since the preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The seventh-round pick out of Purdue did return to practice earlier this week and was on the field for the joint practice against the Packers on Thursday. That helps. Now he’ll have to show what he can do in a game.
The Ravens already have four safeties ahead of him with Kyle Hamilton, Marcus Williams, Ar’Darius Washington and Eddie Jackson, so it’s likely Kane would be headed for a spot on the practice squad.
Wide receiver Anthony Miller
The top three receiver spots belong to Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman and Nelson Agholor. After that, two more spots figure to be some combination of rookie fourth-round pick Devontez Walker, returner Deonte Harty and special teams ace Tylan Wallace.
Could Miller nab the sixth and final spot, if the Ravens keep that many receivers?
He’s been with the Ravens for two weeks but has shown some juice in practice and had three catches on three targets for 16 yards against the Falcons. A good outing Saturday could give him a shot to make the roster.
While Ben Cleveland still hasn’t developed into the dependable starter the Ravens hoped he would be when they drafted him in the third round three years ago, he perhaps solidified a roster spot with his versatility to play center and guard. He has proven he can play both at an acceptable level off the bench.
That also might be what costs Samac, a rookie seventh-rounder from Michigan State, a spot as Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum’s backup.
Samac got some first-team reps at center in the joint practice with the Packers, but he did not seem to stand out. Perhaps more reps and a good showing in Saturday’s game will help his chances.
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