Ronnie Stanley

Ravens Notes: Stanley, Left Guard, Running Backs

Ravens All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley has only appeared in one game since injuring his ankle in November of 2020. Fortunately, it sounds like the lineman could soon be back on the field, as head coach John Harbaugh gave a positive on the lineman’s status.

“Ronnie’s ankle is looking great,” Harbaugh said (via Clifton Brown of the team’s website). “Ronnie’s mission right now will be to get in the best shape of his life and get ready to play football, and that’s what he’s working on.”

Stanley suffered a severe ankle injury during Week 8 of the 2020 season. He tried to return for the 2021 campaign, and after appearing in 100 percent of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 1, he ultimately decided to opt for more surgery. Prior to his injury, Stanley was among the top left tackles in the NFL, with Pro Football Focus consistently ranking him among the best at his position. The team’s primary goal is to have the veteran ready for Week 1, per Brown.

“I expect him to play like Ronnie Stanley,” Harbaugh added. “He’s really motivated to do it. Just talked to him again today. He’s chomping at the bit to get back. If he plays like Ronnie Stanley, and even better, than the significance is almost immeasurable. And that’s what we’re hoping for.”

More out of Baltimore…

  • Elsewhere on the offensive line, it sounds like Ben Cleveland and Tyre Phillips are competing for Baltimore’s starting left guard spot, per Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic. The writer believes Cleveland will be given every opportunity to win the job, although he’ll have to improve his ability to stay healthy and practice well. Meanwhile, Phillips has been forced to fill in at tackle over the past two years, but the coaching staff believes he has the skills to contribute at the position.
  • J.K. Dobbins and Gus Edwards didn’t see the field last season, but Harbaugh indicated that both of his RBs are trending in the right direction as they look to make their return. “You talk to J.K., he’s the starting running back today, he should’ve been practicing today,” Harbaugh said (via Brown). “But he’s got work to do still, so does Gus. But they’re both I think doing great. We’ll see how they look when they come back.”
  • The head coach also spoke highly of the team’s healthy running backs, a grouping that includes free agent addition Mike Davis and rookie sixth-round pick Tyler Badie. “[I’m] very positive about Mike Davis,” Harbaugh said. “He shows up as a veteran running back. [He’s] quick, has really good vision, and he’s always been a good receiving running back, but when you see it in person, it kind of opens your eyes. I’ll say, Tyler Badie, too, is a receiving running back. These guys kind of jumped out that way in these camps.”
  • Before letting go of defensive tackle Derek Wolfe with an injury settlement, the Ravens had been operating as if they wouldn’t have the veteran on the field this season, per Zrebiec. After signing a three-year extension last offseason, Wolfe suffered a back injury that ultimately cost him the entire 2021 season. January hip surgery led to retirement talk, and Wolfe recently revealed that he had undergone another hip surgery later in the offseason. As Zrebiec notes, the team made plenty of moves to assure they wouldn’t be relying on the veteran, including the re-signing of Calais Campbell, using a third-round pick on Travis Jones, and signing veteran Brent Urban.

Ronnie Stanley Expected To Be Ready By Week 1

Injuries have left Ronnie Stanley unable to build on the momentum he established during a 2019 All-Pro season. The Ravens left tackle played just seven games over the past two years, with an ankle surgery ending his 2021 season after one game.

GM Eric DeCosta recently expressed uncertainty about the seventh-year lineman’s prospective September readiness, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com notes a recent checkup revealed good news on that front. Stanley is on pace to be available when the Ravens begin the season (Twitter link).

Stanley, 28, has undergone three ankle surgeries over the past year and change. He suffered a season-ending ankle malady midway through the 2020 season, prompting a procedure, and went through a second operation early in the 2021 offseason. After the former top-10 pick worked his way back to the field by Week 1, when he played 100% of the Ravens’ offensive snaps, more ankle trouble emerged. Stanley did not return last season, having surgery again following his decision to wrap his season in October.

All this has stalled the career of a quality tackle in his prime and significantly impacted the Ravens’ offensive front. Four seasons remain on Stanley’s $19.75MM-per-year contract. The Notre Dame product is on the Ravens’ books at $18.6MM in 2022.

Baltimore traded longtime right tackle-turned-Stanley replacement Orlando Brown Jr. to Kansas City last year and ended up using center Patrick Mekari primarily on the right side. This obviously marked a major step back from the Stanley-Brown pairing of the previous three-plus seasons. Primary 2021 left tackle Alejandro Villanueva retired last month, raising the stakes a bit on Stanley’s return. While the Ravens did add proven right tackle starter Morgan Moses in free agency, they have been linked to the tackle position with their first-round pick.

Ravens Unsure About Ronnie Stanley’s Recovery

Much of the Ravens’ offense is already in place before this month’s draft, but offensive tackle remains an area of concern. When speaking to the media earlier this week, general manager Eric DeCosta addressed the biggest question mark surrounding the health of blindside blocker Ronnie Stanley

“We’re not sure how Ronnie is going to rebound, DeCosta said (Twitter link via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley). He was quick to add, however, that the team remains “optimistic” Stanley will be able to return to his previous All-Pro form. The 28-year-old expressed a similar sentiment when it was announced he would undergo a second consecutive season-ending ankle surgery.

“This is the best decision not only for my health, but also for the team long term.” he said in October. “I look forward to supporting my team from the sideline this season and coming back fully healthy in 2022.”

Baltimore’s sixth-overall pick in 2016, Stanley has been the team’s starting left tackle since his rookie campaign. He has improved throughout his tenure, though he has yet to play a full season. The Ravens turned to veteran Alejandro Villanueva at left tackle in 2021, but he retired at the end of the year. The team re-signed Patrick Mekari (who has primarily spent time at center and right tackle) and added Morgan Moses this offseason. Those two, along with Ja’Wuan James – around whom there are also health-related questions – and Stanley comprise the Ravens’ options at either tackle spot.

Given the current state of the depth chart at the position, DeCosta has made it clear Baltimore is eyeing depth in the draft. The earliest they could add a rookie might be with the 14th overall pick, though the Ravens currently own nine other selections. Even is Stanley is on track to return in time for the 2022 season, then, the team is likely to have more options behind him in case he isn’t able to.

Release Candidate: Ravens OT Alejandro Villanueva

In the week before the 2021 NFL Draft, the Baltimore Ravens gave in to the wishes of Pro Bowl offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. and traded him away to the Chiefs. This trade left a hole on the Ravens’ offensive line opposite All-Pro left tackle Ronnie Stanley. To address this issue, the Ravens signed Alejandro Villanueva, a free agent whom the Steelers felt ready to move on from

After not falling in love with any of the tackles the Draft had to offer at their position in the early rounds, Baltimore opted for a stopgap solution, signing Villanueva to a two-year deal worth $14MM. Villanueva had performed admirably over his sevens years in Pittsburgh, but was never really considered an elite tackle. His best years saw him make consecutive Pro Bowls in the 2017 and 2018 NFL seasons.

As a Raven, Villanueva did his job, and then was asked to do more. After four years of starting at left tackle as a Steeler, Villanueva struggled initially when asked to fill in at right tackle. He got to go back to his more natural position after ankle surgery sidelined Stanley for the all but one game of the 2021 season.

Villanueva had an up and down year. Often Villanueva’s age showed during some rough outings, but the 33-year-old showed some resiliency, playing through some discomfort knowing that another absence for the injury-devastated Ravens could spell disaster. He seemed to find his footing with time, though, playing a pretty good stretch of football to end the season.

But was Villanueva’s performance in 2021 worthy of a $9.25MM cap hit in 2022? Likely not. The Ravens will hope for a strong return for Stanley and they signed Ja’Wuan James to a low $9MM, two-year contract knowing that he likely would be out with a torn Achilles tendon for much of the 2021 season. The likeliest scenario sees Baltimore cutting Villanueva loose to rely on a combination of Stanley and James to bookend the offensive line. The Ravens also recently signed utility offensive lineman Patrick Mekari to a three-year extension. The former undrafted free agent has started at all three offensive line positions for Baltimore and could continue to fill in at right tackle until the next franchise tackle shows up.

Baltimore could also opt to address the position in the 2022 NFL Draft. While, with the 14th overall pick, the Ravens are not in a position to take one of the Draft’s more exciting tackle prospects like NC State’s Ikem Ekwonu or Alabama’s Evan Neal, if Mississippi State’s Charles Cross were to fall to Baltimore, the Ravens, who are known for drafting for value over fit, would likely find it hard to pass on Cross’s potential. Cross, who ranks as the 8th best Draft prospect on The Athletic’s Dane Brugler’s Top 100, impresses many evaluators, but, reportedly, hasn’t convinced the entire league that he’s a top ten draft pick. If the Ravens were to trade back later into the first round, another common move by the draft-savvy franchise, they could find smaller school prospects like Northern Iowa’s Trevor Penning or Central Michigan’s Bernhard Raimann falling into their laps. They could even wait until their second-round or third-round selections come up and opt to take a flyer on Minnesota’s massive Daniel Faalele or Ohio State’s Nicholas Petit-Frere, respectively.

Regardless, most paths that make sense for Baltimore don’t entail the team stomaching a $9.25MM cap hit for a tackle that struggled much of the year for them. Turning 34 at the beginning of the 2022 season, Villanueva could save the Ravens the trouble and simply retire. Whether retired or released, it wouldn’t be a surprise if we don’t see Villanueva in purple and black next season.

Ravens Notes: Lamar Jackson, Marquise Brown, Coaching Staff Changes

Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta held an end-of-season press conference on Friday. In it, he provided updates on a number of key points in the team’s upcoming offseason, including the current status of contract negotiations with quarterback Lamar Jackson

DeCosta made it clear that he is personally handling talks with Jackson, and has been from the beginning of the negotiation process. He added that the two of them have spoken “five or six times over the past year” (Twitter link via Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic). According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, DeCosta added “I’m proud of the relationship that we have” (Twitter link).

Jackson certainly didn’t have the season he or the Ravens were expecting. In 12 games, he recorded 2,882 passing yards and a near-even (16:13) touchdown-to-interception ratio. While he added another 767 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, he also had six fumbles. Between those numbers, and a season-ending ankle injury, 2021 was a far cry from Jackson’s 2019 MVP campaign. If anything, that could further complicate his contract talks, which were reportedly not proceeding as hoped earlier in the season. DeCosta stated: “We’re working at Lamar’s pace… We will operate based on his urgency” (Twitter link), suggesting the team is willing to let the 25-year-old play on his fifth year option.

Here are some other important notes from the presser, along with some updates to the team’s coaching staff:

  • DeCosta said he expects to pick up the fifth year option on wide receiver Marquise Brown (Twitter link via Hensley). A close friend of Jackson’s, Brown had his most productive season in 2021 (91 catches, 1,008 yards, six touchdowns), though he tailed off considerably late in the campaign.
  • The offensive line will be a priority in the offseason. As Zrebiec tweets, DeCosta stated a desire to strengthen the unit overall, though he is “optimistic” left tackle Ronnie Stanley will be able to return to full health after a second major ankle surgery.
  • Zreibec adds that the team is planning on getting younger along the defensive front. With that said, DeCosta has already been in communication with veteran Calais Campbell, who was thought to be contemplating retirement throughout the year.
  • Hensley tweets that cornerback Marcus Peters is expected to be back. He missed the entire season and his release would create $10MM in cap space, but the former All-Pro would provide a playmaking element to the secondary if healthy.
  • As for the coaching staff, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora tweets that inside linebackers coach Rob Ryan will not return. Hensley adds that outside LBs coach Drew Wilkins has also been let go, to pursue new opportunities alongside former DC Don Martindale.
  • According to Zrebiec, former Raven Zach Orr is a candidate to replace Ryan. After his promising career was abruptly ended due to a rare neck ailment, he’s taken to coaching. He spent 2021 on the Jaguars’ staff.

 

Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley Done For Year

Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley will have another surgery on his ankle, shutting him down for the remainder of the season. The Ravens have placed the All-Pro on injured reserve, shutting him down for a second straight year.

This is not what I wanted or expected when coming into the season,” Stanley said. “Throughout the last year, I did everything I could to be 100% healthy so I could be out there playing for our team and city. As a competitor, I have a mindset of sacrificing my body for my brothers and my team to reach our goals. At this point in time, my ankle isn’t where it should be.”

This is the best decision not only for my health, but also for the team long term. I look forward to supporting my team from the sideline this season and coming back fully healthy in 2022.”

Stanley appeared in 100% of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 1 against the Raiders, but he’s been sidelined ever since. Now, he’s the 17th Ravens player to hit the IR list this year — that’s more than any other team in the NFL.

Stanley was outstanding in 2019, his last healthy year, earning First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Last November, the Ravens happily furnished him with a five-year, $98.75MM extension. But, since that stellar ’19, he’s played in just seven regular season games (six last year, one this year).

In Stanley’s stead, the Ravens will continue to deploy Alejandro Villanueva at left tackle with Patrick Mekari manning the right side. They’ll be supported by newcomer Brandon Knight with David Sharpe available for promotion on the practice squad.

Ravens OL Ronnie Stanley Nearing Return?

Ronnie Stanley could be back with the Ravens sooner than later. Head coach John Harbaugh acknowledged today that the team and the offensive line are nearing a resolution regarding the player’s return.

“I think we’re nearing one but i don’t have anything to announce at this time,” Harbaugh said (via ESPN’s Jamison Hensley on Twitter).

Stanley appeared in 100 percent of his team’s offensive snaps in Week 1, but he’s been sidelined the past five games with an ankle injury. We heard in late September that the offensive lineman could be back in a matter of weeks after avoiding ankle surgery, but there hasn’t been an update since.

Stanley was outstanding in 2019, his last healthy year, earning First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Since then, he’s played in a total of seven regular season games (six last year, one this year). In Stanley’s stead, the Ravens will continue to deploy Alejandro Villanueva at left tackle with Patrick Mekari manning the right side.

Latest On Ravens’ Ronnie Stanley

Ronnie Stanley could return in a matter of weeks. The Ravens left tackle will likely avoid surgery on his injured ankle as he continues his rehab protocol (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport).

[RELATED: Ravens Designate Bateman, Boykin For Return]

The All-Pro blocker returned from a previous ankle surgery only to be ruled out for Weeks 2 and 3. Stanley was outstanding in 2019, his last healthy year, earning First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Since then, he’s played in a total of seven regular season games (six last year, one this year).

In his stead, the Ravens have deployed Alejandro Villanueva at left tackle with Patrick Mekari manning the right side. Despite the absence of Stanley and several other key players, things have mostly worked out for the Ravens this year. After dropping the season opener to the Raiders, the Ravens have rebounded with back-to-back wins over the Chiefs and Lions.

Meanwhile, they’re also on the verge of getting wide receivers Rashod Bateman and Miles Boykin back in the lineup. Both players returned to practice on Wednesday, starting a 21-day window for their potential return.

Ravens Place Justin Houston, Brandon Williams, Others On Reserve/COVID-19 List

The Ravens look set to be without several key defenders against the Lions on Sunday. They placed three defensive starters on their reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.

Outside linebackers Justin Houston and Jaylon Ferguson join defensive linemen Brandon Williams and Justin Madubuike in landing on Baltimore’s coronavirus list. While differing protocols exist for vaccinated an unvaccinated players, Friday placements on the virus list leave teams in a bind. This quartet is set to miss Baltimore’s Week 3 game.

It is unclear which members, if any, of the group tested positive. Positive tests would jeopardize their availability for the Ravens’ Week 4 game against the Broncos. Regardless, this continues a brutal season for the Ravens on the availability front.

Baltimore is already without defensive end Derek Wolfe, having ruled out the veteran lineman due to a back injury. Williams has been a starter since 2014, while Madubuike — a 2020 third-round pick — played 49% of the Ravens’ defensive snaps in Week 2.

Houston, 32, has started both Baltimore’s games, lining up opposite Tyus Bowser. The Ravens do have first-round pick Odafe Oweh and Bowser set to be available. Pernell McPhee‘s status is uncertain due to a shoulder injury that prevented him from practicing Friday. Houston, who managed to avoid injuries during both his Colts seasons, will miss his first game since the 2018 season. The veteran edge rusher does not have a sack yet this season but obviously serves as a key player for a Ravens team that let Matt Judon and Yannick Ngakoue walk in free agency.

Baltimore withstood its numerous injuries to upend Kansas City on Sunday night, but the AFC power’s lineup will be filled with backups in Detroit. The team will again be without left tackle Ronnie Stanley on Sunday as well, ruling the All-Pro blocker out due to an ankle injury.

Ravens Restructure Ronnie Stanley’s Deal

The Ravens have restructured Ronnie Stanley‘s contract, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The new deal will see $6.51MM of Stanley’s base salary converted into a signing bonus, freeing up $5.208MM in room for the Ravens.

Stanley signed a $99MM extension just before suffering a severe season-ending ankle injury. 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. And, at 27, Stanley figures to have several good years ahead.

Stanley was outstanding in 2019, his last healthy year, earning First-Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors. Without him, the Ravens will turn to 2018 third-rounder Orlando Brown Jr., who had a tremendous year of his own. Brown, of course, is now with the Chiefs, leaving Stanley to man the left side with Alejandro Villanueva on the right side.

The sixth-year pro was forced to have a second ankle surgery earlier this year, but he’s been able to practice for the last three weeks. Stanley should be good to go for the Ravens’ Week 1 outing Sept. 13. But, if the Ravens need to patch up the roster elsewhere, Stanley’s restructure will give them the flexibility to do it.