For the first time since suffering a season-ending ankle injury Nov. 1, Ronnie Stanley was a Ravens practice participant. Baltimore’s left tackle passed a physical and is now off the team’s active/PUP list.
Stanley’s rehab process ended up being extended due to a second ankle surgery earlier this year, but the Ravens’ O-line anchor returned to work Monday. As could be expected, John Harbaugh declared Stanley “right on schedule.”
This return puts Stanley on track to be ready by Baltimore’s Week 1 outing Sept. 13. The Ravens’ offensive line has undergone some changes since Stanley last suited up. After Orlando Brown Jr. replaced Stanley at left tackle, he lobbied to play that position full-time. The Ravens dealt Brown to the Chiefs and signed longtime Steeler left tackle Alejandro Villanueva to replace him on the right side. Baltimore also added veteran guard Kevin Zeitler and will move Bradley Bozeman from guard to center, with Matt Skura signing with the Dolphins.
Stanley signed his lucrative extension just before going down last year. While subsequent deals for David Bakhtiari and Trent Williams bumped Stanley’s $19.75MM AAV to fourth among left tackles, he remains one of the NFL’s best at the position. At 27, Stanley figures to have several good years ahead — provided he successfully returns from this significant setback.
This will be the Notre Dame product’s sixth season with the Ravens, and his health will obviously be critical to the team’s prospects in a deep AFC.