The Baltimore Ravens pushed their preseason record to 2-0 on Saturday night with a 13-3 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. While the team rested its starters for this game, Jesse Minter and the Ravens’ new-look coaching staff got a closer look at their depth, which will prove to be important as roster cuts draw near.
The position that fans all had their eyes on during this game, though, was the center spot along the offensive line, as Baltimore is scrambling to find a starter at this spot after Danny Pinter suffered a torn patellar tendon, which will likely result in him missing the entire year. Even after this game, the Ravens don’t have a clear-cut answer at this position, leading to a strong message from one team insider.
Ravens Warned About Hole at Center Along Their Offensive Line
Monday & Tuesday: Practice Wednesday: Host joint practice with Commanders Thursday: Walkthrough Friday: Preseason finale vs. Commanders (6PM) Sunday: Reduce to 53-man roster by 6PM ET
Here are the biggest questions remaining after Week 2 of
While the Ravens brought quite a few new faces to town this offseason, one guy they ended up losing was star center Tyler Linderbaum, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. Baltimore never found a true replacement for him, as it instead decided to hold a competition for the starting job during training camp.
For much of camp, Pinter was the frontrunner to win the gig, but he ended up suffering his aforementioned injury, which has forced the coaching staff to start from scratch. Against the Vikings, Ethan Pocic, Jovaughn Gwyn, and Corey Bullock all saw time at the center position, and while each guy held his own, Minter has yet to tip his hand on who the starter will be.
Pocic has the most experience at the center spot, but he’s recovering from an Achilles injury and has looked rusty at time during practice. Neither Gwyn nor Bullock have gotten many snaps at center, which has put the Ravens in a tough spot. While much of the roster has already been sorted out, Baltimore is going to need to figure out its starter at center, or else it could be in trouble.
“Who is Baltimore’s starting center? This is the biggest question mark facing Baltimore,” Jamison Hensley of ESPN wrote. “Danny Pinter, who was closing in on the starting job, suffered a right knee injury Wednesday, which will force him to miss an extended amount of time … The Ravens haven’t indicated who is the front-runner, but the favorite to replace Tyler Linderbaum will likely be the one who starts Friday’s preseason finale.”
Ravens’ Center Battle Remains Top Position Battle Late in Training Camp
GettyBaltimore Ravens head coach Jesse Minter.
Baltimore was hoping it would have addressed this spot by now, but Pinter’s injury has completely changed its outlook. Pocic would be the cleanest fit, but his health remains a notable storyline as training camp continues to unfold. If he’s ready to go by Week 1, it would be tough to throw Gwyn or Bullock into the fire right off the bat.
As Hensley notes, though, the answers will likely be revealed during the Ravens’ preseason finale, which will likely see the starters get some action. How the rest of the team fares will obviously be a storyline worth following, but the most important starter spot left up for grabs is the center position, which is why it will be worth monitoring over the next few days.
Ravens Insider Issues Warning on Key Position of Need After Win Over Vikings