Ravens activate 4 from Reserve/COVID-19 list including RB J.K. Dobbins

The Baltimore Ravens returned four more players from the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday, as the team is coming back to full strength.

The Baltimore Ravens placed a total of 23 players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in the 10 days leading up their Week 12 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now, as they prepare for the Dallas Cowboys in Week 13, the Ravens are getting some of those guys back.

Baltimore announced on Friday afternoon that they’ve activated the following four players from the Reserve/COVID-19 list:

  • RB J.K. Dobbins
  • OLB Pernell McPhee
  • C/G Patrick Mekari
  • C/G Matt Skura

Getting Dobbins back into the lineup is a major boon for the Ravens. While he’s been a part of a four-man backfield, Dobbins had really started to separate from the pack over the last few weeks. Dobbins rushed for 70 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries against the Tennessee Titans and had previously ripped off 113 yards on 15 carries against the Steelers in Week 8.

Both Mekari and Skura had started in Week 11. However, after some terrible snaps the previous few weeks, Mekari took the starting center job from Skura who played as an extra lineman against the Titans. Still, getting both back should help solidify the Ravens’ offensive line, something they’ll desperately need if they want to get back to the postseason.

McPhee might not be a household name but he’s been effective for Baltimore this season. Playing in 10 games this season, McPhee has two sacks, one pass defensed, 25 combined tackles, and 11 quarterback hits. Combine his efforts with Matthew Judon and Calais Campbell (both still on the Reserve/COVID-19 list), as well as newcomer Yannick Ngakoue, and the Ravens have a pretty formidable defensive front.

It’s likely more players will come off the Reserve/COVID-19 list in the coming days. With Baltimore set to take on the Cowboys on Tuesday, there’s even the possibility players like quarterback Lamar Jackson could return and play against Dallas.

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What Lamar Jackson’s positive COVID-19 test means for Ravens

The worst-case scenario happened Thursday. Here’s what Lamar Jackson’s COVID-19 test means for the Baltimore Ravens moving forward.

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Though the Baltimore Ravens already have 10 players on the Reserve/COVID-19 list as well as several staff members who have tested positive, there was still a glimmer of hope remaining. As long as the Ravens had Lamar Jackson at quarterback, anything seemed possible this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But Baltimore got one of its worst-case scenarios on Thursday as Jackson tested positive for COVID-19, among four players and several staff members who tested positive.

While everyone hopes all the players, staff members, and their families stay safe and don’t suffer any ill effects, this is about as big of a blow as the Ravens could get from a football perspective. As it stands, Baltimore already had several starters on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, further stressing a roster that has already been thinned massively due to injuries.

With Jackson testing positive and third-string quarterback Trace McSorley among the group already on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, Baltimore would be down to just two healthy quarterbacks. Robert Griffin III would likely start Sunday against the Steelers while undrafted free agent Tyler Huntley would be the only backup.

Though Griffin is no slouch as a quarterback — earning a Pro Bowl nod and the Offensive Rookie of the Year award — he doesn’t come close to Jackson’s talent, speed, and rushing ability. The Ravens helped Griffin revive his career after spending 2017 out of the game, but he hasn’t offered much in the way of production for Baltimore. Griffin has played in 13 games with the Ravens, starting one, completing 56.5% of his 46 passing attempts for 255 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions, while averaging just 2.8 yards-per-carry and no touchdowns on 25 rushing attempts.

The Ravens are missing both running backs Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins, as well as centers Matt Skura and Patrick Mekari after positive COVID-19 tests this week. On top of the other injuries Baltimore has suffered this season, the wide receiver corps would be the only offensive unit not yet hit by the coronavirus or season-ending injury to a starter. The defense isn’t looking much better with starters Calais Campbell, Brandon Williams, and Pernell McPhee all going on the Reserve/COVID-19 list this week.

With Jackson testing positive for COVID-19, he’s held out a minimum of 10 days from the date of the initial positive test, or five days with two consecutively negative tests if he was asymptomatic, per Sporting News’ Tadd Haislop. If Jackson is showing any symptoms, he’ll be out for a minimum of 10 days and 72 hours after last experiencing symptoms. Testing positive Thursday would mean Jackson will definitely miss Sunday’s game against the Steelers but would also miss Week 13 against the Dallas Cowboys.

Baltimore sits at 6-4 entering Week 12. While this game wasn’t necessarily a must-win matchup, a loss would all but concede the AFC North to Pittsburgh this season. It would also do quite a bit of damage to the Ravens’ chances in the AFC playoff picture, turning the final five weeks into must-win games. Not having Jackson in the lineup, as well as a whole bunch of other starters, would make Baltimore’s job a lot harder. And considering the Ravens haven’t exactly been world-beaters up to this point, it’s tough seeing the team make the postseason after earning the No. 1 seed last year.

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Ravens place Calais Campbell, Matt Skura, Patrick Mekari on Reserve/COVID-19 list

The Baltimore Ravens placed Calais Campbell, Matt Skura, and Patrick Mekari on the Reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.

As expected, the Baltimore Ravens are continuing to deal with a COVID-19 outbreak this week. Per the team’s Twitter account, Baltimore placed defensive end Calais Campbell, as well as centers Patrick Mekari and Matt Skura on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. Due to the Ravens’ continued outbreak, the NFL has pushed their Week 12 game with the Steelers back to Sunday. Though that takes away a prime time matchup on Thanksgiving, it ultimately allows Baltimore to continue testing and contact tracing.

The team’s report doesn’t note whether the players tested positive themselves or if they were considered close contacts. While that will determine if they have to miss a minimum of five days or 10 days, none will be eligible to play this week against the Pittsburgh Steelers regardless.

Those three losses loom large for the Ravens. Campbell has been an outstanding addition to this defense this season, shoring up the run and adding a far more consistent pass rush. However, due to injuries, this will be Campbell’s third-consecutive missed game this season. Skura had been demoted as the starting center but played last week in rotation at right guard. Replacing Skura at center last week was Mekari, meaning Baltimore’s already beat-up offensive line is taking further losses they can’t much afford right now.

With the addition of running backs J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram, as well as defensive lineman Brandon Williams, and outside linebacker Pernell McPhee, that means the Ravens will be missing several starters on both sides of the ball this week and potentially next week as well. If Baltimore wants to get back to the playoffs this season, that means they’re close to being in must-win territory at 6-4.

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Ravens benching C Matt Skura vs. Titans

After a game in which he had several terrible snaps, the Baltimore Ravens are putting Matt Skura on the bench in favor of Patrick Mekari.

Baltimore Ravens center Matt Skura had a pretty bad game last week. Though it was in a torrential downpour, several of Skura’s snaps were wildly off the mark. Unfortunately, quite a few of those bad snaps happened at the worst times possible, including on a fourth-down attempt that squirted behind running back Mark Ingram for a massive loss and turnover on downs.

In Week 11 against the Tennessee Titans, the Ravens are going to see what Patrick Mekari can do at the position instead. Per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garofolo, Baltimore is benching Skura for at least this week with Mekari taking over the starting center job.

Skura made a relatively quick recovery from a devastating knee injury suffered last season. Despite tearing his ACL, MCL, PCL and dislocating his knee cap late last season, Skura was able to rehabilitate and make it back to the team in time for training camp. Whether Skura’s injury isn’t quite healed or he’s still dealing with the mental hurdles of such a gruesome injury is unclear but it’s not the first time this season he’s struggled.

With the offensive line already in shambles following the season-ending injuries to left tackle Ronnie Stanley and right guard Tyre Phillips, making further changes will hopefully improve the play of the entire unit. When Skura went down with his injury last season, Mekari was the one who took over the starting duties, playing well in his stead.

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Ravens C Matt Skura asks fans to leave his family alone after struggles vs. Patriots

After a difficult game against the New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens center Matt Skura had to ask fans to stop threatening his family

Baltimore Ravens center Matt Skura didn’t have his best game in Week 10 against the New England Patriots. But on Monday, Skura indicated Monday on his Instagram that his family was harassed and threatened because of his performance.

In a torrential downpour, Skura was off-target on several of his snaps, including on a fourth-and-one attempt that went tumbling on the turf. Skura was far from the only player to struggle in that game, ultimately seeing the Ravens lose 23-17 to the Patriots.

In his note on Instagram, Skura apologized for his performance and mistakes in the game. However, Skura also added, “please know my family is off limits when it comes to hateful and threatening messages. They do not deserve to be scrutinized for something they did not do.”

It should go without saying, but football is just a game. Harassing or threatening anyone over football is unacceptable, but going after someone’s family is a giant step further. It’s especially sad to hear Skura received so much personal hate considering the work he’s done raising money and awareness for the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. If you’re interested in helping Skura’s Touchdowns vs. Cancer foundation, you can donate here.

6 takeaways from Ravens’ 24-10 win over Colts

The Baltimore Ravens fought hard to win a 24-10 game over the Indianapolis Colts. We dive into what the key takeaways were in the game

The Baltimore Ravens were able to secure a hard fought 24-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts. It was a tale of two halves for the Ravens, as the offense struggled mightily in the first half before bouncing back in the second half. The defense overall played a great game, and the fact that they played so well without Marlon Humphrey, L.J. Fort, and Calais Campbell (who was lost on the first defensive series), makes it that much more impressive.

This game provided answers to plenty of questions, but it also raised more. With Baltimore being 6-2 on the season, we’re officially halfway through the 2020 campaign. Overreactions early in the season become more justified as we seen more and more of certain things. Strengths of the team also become real strengths and not just factors of a few good games.

At the end of the day, Baltimore picked up a win against a very good team and finished Week 9 on a high note. With that being said, let’s take a look at six takeaways from the win against Indianapolis.

6 takeaways from Ravens’ 28-24 loss to Steelers

The Baltimore Ravens lost a physical game to the Pittsburgh Steelers by a final score of 28-24. What can we take away from the game?

The Baltimore Ravens lost a heartbreaker to their biggest rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers, by a score of 28-24. The game came down to the wire despite Baltimore repeatedly shooting themselves in the foot with costly turnovers and penalties. At the end of the day, the Ravens just didn’t have enough to pull out a decisive victory.

The win moves Pittsburgh to 7-0 while Baltimore falls to 5-2. While that 5-2 record is nothing to scoff at, there are clearly still areas the Ravens need to work on and adjustments that need to be made. Lamar Jackson had a rough day, as did the offensive line and the defense seemed to have lost a step in the second half after playing lights out in the first half.

Let’s take a look at six takeaways from the game and what Baltimore can do with them moving forward.

What Ronnie Stanley’s injury means for Ravens’ offensive line moving forward

Baltimore Ravens LT Ronnie Stanley’s injury will end his 2020 season. But what does it mean for the Ravens moving forward?

The Baltimore Ravens lost 28-24 to the Pittsburgh Steelers in an extremely tough and physical game in Week 8. That physicality played a part in a number of injuries that took place throughout the course of the contest, none bigger than left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who left the game in the first quarter with what has been confirmed as a season-ending ankle injury.

Stanley got rolled up on by Steelers linebacker T.J. Watt and went down to the ground in serious pain. The cart was brought out and Stanley’s leg was put in an air cast. While he was in good spirits leaving the field, the precautions the trainers were using pointed to it being Stanley’s last time on the field in pads this season.

Stanley, who just signed a massive five-year extension with the Ravens a few days ago, is a massive loss for Baltimore. He is one of, if not the best left tackle in the league. For a unit that was struggling even with Stanley on the field, his subtraction will be felt immediately. The question is just how much will it impact the Ravens, both on the ground and through the air.

Stanley was dominating in 2020 and showed why the Ravens invested a lot of money into him. What makes Stanley so valuable is his elite run blocking as well as amazing pass protection. He’s a versatile player who doesn’t have many weaknesses, as ESPN analytics writer Seth Walder pointed out.

During the game against Pittsburgh, Baltimore moved starting right tackle Orlando Brown Jr to left tackle while inserting backup tackle D.J. Fluker on the right side at right tackle. It was the plan they used in Week 4 when Stanley missed the game against the Washington Football Team.

Moving forward, Baltimore will most likely keep things in-house when looking to replace Stanley. The Ravens were able to still find room on the ground with Stanley out, rushing for a combined 265 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. Like we saw today and in Week 4, Baltimore will most likely roll out Brown at left tackle and Fluker at right tackle for the remainder of the season. Fluker is a good run blocker who’s physical at the line but can struggle at times in pass protection.

Fluker will be relied upon to fill a big spot on the Ravens’ offensive line. Against the Steelers, he played well, although there were a few times where he struggled to sustain blocks. However, going up against a very stout Pittsburgh front four, some struggles were to be expected. However, Baltimore has games against the Indianapolis Colts (third-fewest rushing yards-per-game allowed heading into Week 8), Steelers (2nd-fewest), Cleveland Browns (5th-fewest), and New York Giants (8th-fewest) remaining on their schedule.

Baltimore’s offensive line is in trouble right now. Center Matt Skura looks nowhere near the player he was in 2019 and is struggling badly. There is a revolving door at right guard that has seen Tyre Phillips, Patrick Mekari, and Ben Powers all get playing time. With Phillips suffering an ankle injury of his own against Pittsburgh, it’s unclear if he’ll be able to play next week or beyond. Left guard Bradley Bozeman seems to be the only one playing their normal position at a high level with Brown Jr. now moving to the left side.

The loss of Ronnie Stanley hurts and there’s no wishing that away. The Ravens have lost their best two offensive linemen from 2019 in a span of about eight months with Marshal Yanda’s retirement and now Stanley’s injury. Baltimore will have to weather the storm and work with what they have, although yet another position of depth at the beginning of the season is beginning to fall apart alongside the team’s injury woes at cornerback.

However, just because the Ravens lost Stanley doesn’t mean the season is over. Baltimore has an extremely talented roster and their offense is still capable of big things. There are issues that need to be sorted out after losing an All-Pro-caliber talent like Stanley, but this injury doesn’t define their season . . . It’s how they respond to it that will.

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Ravens C Matt Skura passed his physical

Less than a year after a gruesome knee injury that ended his season, Baltimore Ravens center Matt Skura is set to return to the field.

Baltimore Ravens center Matt Skura has been one of the more inspirational stories this offseason. After suffering a season-ending knee injury last year, Skura has worked incredibly hard to get back on the field. And as the Ravens put on pads for the first time, Skura will be able to do that. According to the league’s transaction report, Skura has passed his physical and can practice with the team.

Skura tore his ACL, MCL, PCL, and dislocated his knee cap on Nov. 25, in a Week 12 game against the Los Angeles Rams. These types of knee injuries used to be career enders but now players routinely rehabilitate and return to the field about a year later, with it taking a little longer to actually get back up to 100% physically and mentally. Though Skura has been working hard, posting videos of his impressive workouts along the way, a return to the practice field in pads would be an impressive feat. It’s one Baltimore could really use as well.

Center is one of the few positions that have a bit of a competition at training camp. When Skura wasn’t expected to be back to 100% yet, it was figured the team would let guys like Patrick Mekari and Bradley Bozeman jockey for a potential starting spot. But if Skura truly is back, Baltimore’s coaching staff might be able to turn their attention to other competitions. They’d also return 10-of-11 starters from last season’s top-scoring offense.

In the 11 games Skura started for Baltimore last season, the offense put up 2,316 rushing yards combined (210.55 yards per game on average). That alone would have topped the entire NFL last season, not even counting the extra they put on in the final few weeks to break a 41-year old record. For his part, Skura was outstanding, earning a 68.7 overall grade from Pro Football Focus and allowing just one sack over 11 games.

As the Ravens truly open training camp for the first time this offseason, they’re seeing puzzle pieces come into place.

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Ravens place C Matt Skura on physically unable to perform list

The Baltimore Ravens got their first look at center Matt Skura’s return from a knee injury at training camp, putting him on the PUP list.

The Baltimore Ravens got their first real look at center Matt Skura this offseason, but apparently, he’s just not 100% ready to go. The Ravens announced via Twitter they’ve placed Skura on the active physically unable to perform (PUP) list at training camp.

Skura heading to the PUP list shouldn’t be very shocking. He suffered a gruesome knee injury last season, tearing his ACL, PCL, MCL, and dislocating his knee cap in Week 11. Though Skura has been keeping fans updated on his comeback with a series of workout videos, those types of knee injuries take serious time to get back 100% physically. Beyond that, there’s the mental side of a knee injury like that, with many players needing another year to actually return to form in games.

Skura’s placement on the PUP list doesn’t mean he’s done for the year, however. Skura can return to training camp practices once cleared by Baltimore’s medical staff. That gives him the chance to continue rehabilitating with the Ravens’ trainers, something that’s been difficult to do with the coronavirus pandemic forcing everyone to remain socially distant. It’s also an open window to return to the team before the end of the offseason and potentially still start come Week 1.

However, it also means Baltimore is likely to start looking a little harder at other options on its roster right now, in the event Skura isn’t ready to return for the regular season.

Patrick Mekari filled in well at center following Skura’s injury last season. It would make sense Mekari is penciled into the starting role right now in training camp, though he’s likely going to see some competition as well. Bradley Bozeman started at left guard last season but with an influx of guards on the roster and not as many experienced players at center, he could be in the running for the starting job if necessary. UDFAs Sean Pollard and Trystan Colon-Castillo could also be in the mix for a spot on the 53-man roster as well, though it seems unlikely they’d be put into the starting lineup if there were more experienced players available.

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