Baltimore Ravens Final 53-man Roster Projection For 2022 - ESPN

• Jamison HensleyAug 28, 2022, 09:45 AMClose
  Jamison Hensley is a reporter covering the Baltimore Ravens for ESPN. Jamison joined ESPN in 2011, covering the AFC North before focusing exclusively on the Ravens beginning in 2013. Jamison won the National Sports Media Association Maryland Sportswriter of the Year award in 2018, and he authored a book titled: Flying High: Stories of the Baltimore Ravens. He was the Ravens beat writer for the Baltimore Sun from 2000-2011.
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The Baltimore Ravens open the 2022 NFL regular season at the New York Jets on Sept. 11 at MetLife Stadium.

Injuries derailed the 2021 season for Baltimore, which finished last in the AFC North, and they continue to impact its roster this year. The Ravens have to determine whether running back J.K. Dobbins and left tackle Ronnie Stanley will be ready for the regular season. Team officials might need to carry an extra running back and offensive lineman as contingency plans.

Baltimore, which has a run-first philosophy with quarterback Lamar Jackson, could have an old-school look with its season-opening roster. The Ravens may keep as many running backs as wide receivers and carry double-digit offensive linemen.

The roster will be cut to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday. Here is a projection:

QUARTERBACK (2): Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley

The Ravens, who have one of the best quarterback groups in the league, will go with two quarterbacks to start a season for the first time since 2017. Undrafted rookie Anthony Brown, who has improved throughout the summer, is a leading candidate for the practice squad.

RUNNING BACK (5): J.K. Dobbins, Mike Davis, Tyler Badie, Justice Hill, Patrick Ricard

It's uncertain whether Dobbins, who is coming off a season-ending left knee injury, will be ready by Week 1. Even if Dobbins suits up, he won't handle a full workload. Davis would fill in for Dobbins and should have a major role throughout the season because Gus Edwards is expected to miss a chunk of the season after last year's season-ending knee injury. Hill gets one of the last roster spots due to a strong training camp and his value on special teams.

WIDE RECEIVER (5): Rashod Bateman, Devin Duvernay, James Proche II, Demarcus Robinson, Tylan Wallace

This group is the biggest question mark on the team, especially after it traded away No. 1 wide receiver Marquise Brown this offseason. No current receiver has caught more than 50 passes in a season. Robinson is the only one who has played more than two seasons. Wallace sticks because Baltimore rarely parts ways with fourth-round picks after one full season.

TIGHT END (4): Mark Andrews, Nick Boyle, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar

Likely has gone from being the second tight end drafted by the Ravens this year to one of Jackson's top three targets. Boyle, the team's top blocking tight end, is still working his way back from a severe knee injury that he suffered two years ago. Kolar missed all of training camp after undergoing a sports hernia surgery and will go on injured reserve the day after the initial 53-man roster is finalized to free up a roster spot for a veteran like defensive lineman Brent Urban.

2022 NFL 53-man roster projections

As teams trim their rosters to 53, NFL Nation reporters predict who makes it and who gets cut with projections for all 32 teams. • Final 53-man roster projections » • Full 2022 schedule | Depth charts » • Transactions | Injuries | More NFL »

OFFENSIVE LINE (10): Ronnie Stanley, Kevin Zeitler, Tyler Linderbaum, Morgan Moses, Ben Powers, Patrick Mekari, Ben Cleveland, Daniel Faalele, Tyre Phillips, Ja'Wuan James

The Ravens activated Stanley off PUP, but it's uncertain whether the former All-Pro left tackle will be ready for the start of the regular season. He has missed 28 of Baltimore's last 29 games (including playoffs), which is why the Ravens need to keep James as insurance to protect Jackson's blind side. Powers remains the favorite to start at left guard after competing with Phillips.

DEFENSIVE LINE (5): Calais Campbell, Michael Pierce, Justin Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington

The Ravens will cut -- and then immediately bring back -- Urban, a top backup on the defensive line, as soon as the initial 53-man roster is official. This is a way to make sure a rookie like Kolar or outside linebacker David Ojabo can get activated off injured reserve later in the season (players must be on the initial 53-man roster in order to get designated for return off IR). Urban doesn't have to pass through waivers because he is a veteran player, so he can re-sign with Baltimore after getting cut.

OUTSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Odafe Oweh, Justin Houston, Daelin Hayes, David Ojabo

Tyus Bowser was placed on the reserve/PUP, which will sideline him for at least the first four games. Bowser tore an Achilles in the regular season finale in January. Ojabo, the Ravens' second-round pick, won't be ready to play at the start of the season after tearing an Achilles on his pro day in March. Baltimore will put Ojabo on IR a day after the 53-man roster is official (in order to make him eligible to return later in the season) and bring back a veteran like Urban or outside linebacker Steven Means, who could end up on the practice squad.

INSIDE LINEBACKER (4): Josh Bynes, Patrick Queen, Malik Harrison, Josh Ross

One of the toughest roster decisions is between Ross and Kristian Welch, who has been a core special teams player. But Ross, who was all over the field in the preseason, has more upside as far as a defensive player. Welch has a better chance of clearing waivers and would get added to the practice squad.

CORNERBACK (7): Marlon Humphrey, Marcus Peters, Kyle Fuller, Jalyn Armour-Davis, Brandon Stephens, Pepe Williams, Kevon Seymour

Injuries have repeatedly hit this position, which is why the Ravens will keep an extra cornerback. Seymour showed he was serviceable when pressed into the lineup late last season and impressed team officials by playing hurt.

SAFETY (4): Marcus Williams, Kyle Hamilton, Chuck Clark, Geno Stone.

One of the final cuts will likely be Tony Jefferson, who has made a remarkable comeback after injuring a knee three years ago. But Jefferson struggled at times during the preseason, and the Ravens can keep him by signing him to the practice squad. Stone gets the nod over Jefferson because he has improved each season and has become a core special teams player.

SPECIALISTS (3): Justin Tucker (K), Jordan Stout (P), Nick Moore (LS).

The Ravens could soon have the NFL's best punter to go along with the league's best kicker. Stout has been impressive with his strong leg and ability to place punts inside the 10-yard line. He is replacing Sam Koch, who is now mentoring Stout as an assistant after punting for the team for 16 years.