Things got messy along the offensive line for the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14, but the team has reacted quickly by signing a Pro Bowl guard, making room for the newcomer after a key move involving veteran pass-rusher Carl Lawson.
The Ravens added interior blocker Laken Tomlinson to the practice squad on Tuesday, December 9. His arrival meant the team dumped Lawson, who has struggled to stick since joining during the 2025 NFL season.
Those transactions were confirmed by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Signing Tomlinson is not an insignificant addition given the Ravens’ struggles during the 27-22 defeat to AFC North rivals the Pittsburgh Steelers. Those struggles were most obvious along the interior, where left guard Andrew Vorhees had problems, while right guard Daniel Faalele took the brunt of criticism.
A move at the position was also called for after versatile veteran backup Ben Cleveland was suspended for three games for a violation of the league’s substance-abuse policies. Tomlinson has the pedigree to be an asset on a depth chart in a state of flux and needing an infusion of talent.
The same can be said about Baltimore’s pass-rush rotation, but the Ravens are content to roll forward without Lawson.
Laken Tomlinson Answers Need for Ravens
Tomlinson is still a serviceable pro lineman, despite losing his starting job with the Houston Texans. The 6-foot-3, 323-pounder is a flexible mauler with ample experience in zone-blocking schemes from his days with the San Francisco 49ers, as well as comfort in the power game, dating back to time with the Detroit Lions to begin his career.
That experience makes Tomlinson useful to a Ravens offense rediscovering its roots as a rushing powerhouse. The unit amassed 217 yards on the ground against a rugged Steelers defense in Week 14.
Success in the running game was welcome but also undermined by how Vorhees and Faalele flailed in other areas. Vorhees committed a critical holding penalty to stall a doomed final drive, while Faalale had a hard time limiting inside pressure on franchise quarterback Lamar Jackson.
Putting Tomlinson next to this year’s third-round pick Emery Jones Jr., who’s still in the development phase of his debut campaign, gives the Ravens credible alternatives to less-than convincing starters.
There are fewer viable options at the edges of their front seven.
Carl Lawson Move Surprising
Lawson barely made a dent in the Ravens’ pass rush, appearing in just one game, but he’s still a proven commodity as somebody able to put heat on the pocket. The 30-year-old is also the kind of hybrid-style edge defender the Ravens tend to stockpile.
Moving on without Lawson means the Ravens are content to rely on 34-year-old Kyle Van Noy. He remains the senior man ahead of rookie Mike Green and mid-season trade acquisition Dre’Mont Jones, who has already proved an asset.
Jones is performing well, but the Ravens have still only recorded a mere 19 sacks. Green leads the team with a modest 2.5 QB takedowns. The latter number sums up a mediocre pass rush that failed to unsettle Steelers signal-caller Aaron Rodgers and left the secondary vulnerable to big plays through the air.
It’s a risk to jettison a player with genuine pass-rush skills at this point of a season the Ravens are desperately trying to salvage. However, the greater risk would be continuing with a threadbare offensive line to protect Jackson and power a resurgent running game.
Ravens Sign Pro Bowl G After Carl Lawson Move