Baltimore Ravens roster hopefuls have little more than a week to make a final impression. Baltimore needs to cut its roster from 91 to 53 by 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 27.
There will be plenty of talk this week about all of the jobs that are on the line as the Ravens ready for practices Monday and Tuesday at their Under Armour Performance Center, fly to Green Bay on Wednesday, participate in joint practices with the Packers on Thursday and then play their preseason finale Saturday at Lambeau Field.
The reality, though, is that most of the team’s decisions have already been made after an evaluation process that started in mid-April when players reported to the team facility for the start of the offseason workout program. However, there are presumably a few more tough calls for the team’s decision-makers.
With cutdown day rapidly approaching, it’s time for another stock report. Whose is up and whose is down heading into the final week of the preseason schedule?
Stock: Up
Kyle Hamilton, S
Hamilton probably doesn’t belong on this list, because his stock is already sky-high. However, his week deserves mention. He went down in a heap in last Sunday’s practice, the sight reducing his teammates and coaches, along with the roughly 1,000 fans in attendance, to stunned silence. He ultimately limped back to the facility. A day later, he was able to take the field for a workout with a member of the athletic training staff. A day after that, he was a full participant in practice, punctuating his return by making a play on a deep ball to Zay Flowers. Then, the day after that, Hamilton set the tone for the group by slinging running backs Justice Hill and Owen Wright to the ground. Hamilton has been in midseason form all summer.
GO DEEPER
Lamar Jackson’s chemistry with TE Isaiah Likely continues to grow
Qadir Ismail, TE
Ismail happens to be playing a position where the Ravens were set heading into training camp with Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar and Patrick Ricard all returning. That doesn’t minimize what the undrafted free agent out of Samford who transitioned to tight end about a month ago has accomplished this summer. It was always going to be a feel-good story with Qadir’s signing with the team his father, Qadry Ismail, played for and helped lead to a Super Bowl. However, Qadir has made it far more than that by improving at a rapid rate and embracing every opportunity. Coaches and teammates have raved about his character, too. At the very least, there should be a place for him on the practice squad. He’s earned it.
TD @qadir_ismaiI ❗ pic.twitter.com/y7usqeLvnF
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) August 15, 2024
Anthony Miller, WR
Signed a week ago, Miller initially appeared to be just another fresh and healthy body to get the Ravens through the preseason. However, he’s made an instant impression with his speed. He’s made a few plays in just about every Ravens practice and had receptions on three consecutive plays against the Atlanta Falcons. Has he done enough to pass Tylan Wallace on the depth chart? Maybe not, but the second-round pick of the Chicago Bears has done enough to at least be in the mix this late in the game.
David Ojabo, OLB
The 2022 second-round pick wasn’t credited with a sack or a tackle against the Falcons. Yet, he took a much-needed step forward by winning on a couple of his pass rush reps, playing fast rather than being tentative and looking healthy and engaged. The performance in the game followed what was a couple of strong days of practice for the former Michigan standout. Yes, it’s only a small sample and it’s important not to get carried away. Ojabo, though, was a player who badly needed positive momentum and created some last week.
Returning young defensive backs
If there was any ambiguity about whether third-year pro Ar’Darius Washington would make the season-opening roster, he’s probably erased it by having a strong camp and preseason. Third-year corners Jalyn Armour-Davis and Damarion Williams have stayed healthy and have played and practiced well. Armour-Davis’ roster spot feels like a lock, and Williams could benefit from the knee injury suffered by Arthur Maulet. Not too long ago it felt like there wouldn’t be space for Washington, Armour-Davis and Williams to make the team. There’s still work to do, particularly for Williams. However, so far he’s done his part.
GO DEEPER
Ravens insist they believe in their young offensive linemen. They better be right
Roger Rosengarten, RT
Rosengarten played into the third quarter of the second preseason game and handled himself well. It wasn’t a perfect outing by any means, but you could see what the Ravens liked about him in the draft and what they believed would allow him to become a plug-and-play starter at right tackle. He plays with toughness, athleticism and awareness. Over the past week, he cashed in on the frontline reps and took a significant step toward winning the starting right tackle job. There might be some inevitable first-year struggles, but Rosengarten should only get better as he gains more experience and gets stronger.
Honorable mention: Bump Cooper Jr., CB; Josh Johnson, QB; Trenton Simpson, ILB; Dayton Wade, WR
John Harbaugh — in his 17th season with the Ravens — still has roster decisions to make with one preseason game remaining. (Tommy Gilligan / USA Today)
Stock: Down
Rasheen Ali, RB
The fifth-round rookie had a quiet start to training camp, struggled in short-yardage situations in the preseason opener and suffered what coach John Harbaugh called a stinger. He hasn’t been on the field since and didn’t play Saturday against the Falcons. Meanwhile, his top competitor for the No. 3 running back role (Wright) caught a touchdown pass. If the decision is based solely on practice and game performance over the past four weeks, Ali has a lot of ground to make up on Wright this week. We all know, however, that other things factor. Ali has to first get back on the field. His second order of business will be proving he’s worthy of a roster spot. The Ravens have cut or traded rookie fifth-round picks in two of the past three years, so there’s nothing guaranteed for Ali.
Malaesala Aumavae-Laulu, OL
Not only did Aumavae-Laulu never really make a push for one of the starting guard jobs, but he’s also seemingly yet to nail down a reserve spot on the 53-man roster either. It feels like the 2023 sixth-round pick is one of the legitimate “bubble” guys heading into the final week before roster cuts. In his favor is that the Ravens could have as many as two available offensive line spots and there’s not a lot of competition to fill them. But Aumavae-Laulu’s use at tackle in the second half of the second preseason game could be a sign the Ravens are still trying to figure out where he best fits.
GO DEEPER
Ravens believe in their edge rush options despite slow start to training camp
Reserve inside linebackers
Malik Harrison has been in good form this summer, but with the team’s issues on the outside, it might be more important for him to take snaps at the sam position. Josh Ross has been relatively quiet in camp and didn’t play against the Falcons because of an undisclosed injury. Chris Board missed all of last week after suffering a concussion in the preseason opener. Undrafted rookies Yvandy Rigby and Deion Jennings haven’t gained a lot of traction for a roster spot. The depth behind starters Roquan Smith and Simpson has suddenly become a question.
Russell Gage, WR
The Ravens signed the 28-year-old midway through training camp, intent on allowing the veteran to prove he’s back from a major knee injury that cost him the 2023 season. Gage jumped right in and found the end zone during his first practice. Shortly thereafter, he suffered an undisclosed injury, and the only glimpses since have been of him on an adjacent field working with an athletic trainer. Time is running out for him to get healthy and make a case that he belongs on the 53-man roster.
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Undrafted rookie class
There are a few exceptions here. Ismail has practiced extremely well. Wade has flashed. Cooper has come on lately. Emory Jones will always have that touchdown throw against the Falcons. Still, the Ravens enter the final week before the roster cuts without an obvious choice for an undrafted rookie to make the team. It used to be a formality that the Ravens would find 53-man roster space for an undrafted free agent. They take extreme pride in it. However, this is shaping up to be a year when their free-agent rookie class isn’t represented on the 53-man roster come early September.
Devontez Walker, WR
Walker played just six offensive snaps against the Falcons, and Harbaugh said afterward he’s still dealing with a rib injury. It continues what’s been a difficult training camp for the fourth-round rookie. He hasn’t had too many moments in practice, he’s had precious few opportunities in games, and he’s battled physical issues. It seems highly unlikely the Ravens would cut a rookie fourth-round pick. However, Walker is running out of time to prove he warrants a game day role for the Ravens early in the season. If this rib issue persists, injured reserve could come into play, which could allow the Ravens to keep another veteran receiver like Miller, Gage or Keith Kirkwood on the 53-man roster.
(Top photo of Ar’Darious Washington: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)
