Ravens to watch in Saturday’s preseason finale vs. Washington Commanders

The previous video game of preseason has never ever been a showcase for set up gamers, and it would be a shock if Ravens coach John Harbaugh utilizes much more than two or 3 probable starters Saturday evening when his staff hosts the Washington Commanders.

Harbaugh has taken a cautious technique to this preseason, most likely driven by the memory of running back again J.K. Dobbins tearing his ACL previous August towards Washington. We have not viewed quarterback Lamar Jackson or most of the team’s other established starters in the Ravens’ matchups with the Tennessee Titans and Arizona Cardinals. Harbaugh said we could “extrapolate” his system for the Commanders recreation primarily based on that sample.

So the Ravens will go for their 23rd straight preseason victory with a crew of players battling for scraps of regular-time time or, in some situations, a place on the team’s follow squad. Harbaugh and his personnel will slice the roster from 80 gamers to 53 by Tuesday afternoon, and while most of their selections were being created lengthy ago, a optimistic final perception never hurts. There are situation teams where by the pecking get is not established and players who have but to make a potent impression, in some situations for the reason that of damage.

As we sort by the business even now to be solved, here are some gamers to keep an eye on towards the Commanders:

WR Tylan Wallace

Wallace was the presumed No. 4 receiver coming into coaching camp, but he bought off to a very poor start out, and his quest to nail down that spot was derailed by a knee sprain endured in the preseason opener against the Titans. His position grew far more tenuous when the Ravens included previous Kansas Metropolis Chiefs wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, whom Harbaugh praised as a “big, solid receiver with extremely solid fingers.” The Ravens gave Robinson $900,000 confirmed, which suggests he’s virtually undoubtedly likely to be on the crew.

Wallace returned to observe Tuesday we do not know how much his knee sprain may limit him heading into Saturday’s match. The 2021 fourth-round choose is probably not in threat of staying reduce, but he could be in threat of falling out of sight, out of brain if Robinson, who will participate in versus the Commanders, performs effectively. Wallace could use a breakout recreation to set his disappointing summer in the rearview mirror and assert his situation for a significant job.

RB Justice Hill

We most likely will not see Dobbins right up until Week 1 at the earliest. Mike Davis started off the first two preseason game titles and appears to be a safe and sound bet to engage in early in the season. Sixth-round select Tyler Badie has finished more than enough to adhere. That leaves Hill, who gained solid evaluations for his enjoy early in instruction camp after he worked tricky to come back from a torn Achilles tendon. The 2019 fourth-round decide has not constructed on that promising start off with impressive preseason quantities — holding penalties price him 20 yards against the Titans — and he’s had a absence of prospect (eight carries about two games).

Have the Ravens steered away from working with Hill simply because they presently know what he can do? Or is he not a precedence in their offense, even with Dobbins sidelined? It will be attention-grabbing to see if he performs a bigger part from Washington and if that portends the Ravens maintaining four operating backs to start off the period.

G Tyre Phillips

The eternal fight to get started at still left guard rages on, with coaches declaring Ben Powers holds a slight benefit since of his consistency. But Phillips basically commenced on the left facet from the Cardinals, with Powers starting off at correct guard in advance of he played a series as the backup middle. That proposed the matter is far from settled.

Phillips has not served himself in either preseason game. He bore partial obligation for various pressures and a pair of sacks in opposition to the Titans and fully commited three penalties against the Cardinals. Coaches want to give him the profit of the doubt mainly because of his sizing and agility, but they have figured out to have faith in Powers more. Phillips requirements to adjust their minds, and he will possible have sufficient snaps to make his case from Washington.

WRs Shemar Bridges and Makai Polk

Both undrafted totally free agents crafted momentum with exceptional performances in the initial preseason match. Neither performed as very well versus the Cardinals (two catches blended for 27 yards), and now, Robinson and Wallace stand in their way.

Bridges and Polk could see a great deal of targets in opposition to the Commanders, probably from third-string quarterback Anthony Brown, who will be auditioning for a place on the apply squad. Their chances of generating the 53-man roster are most likely absent, but they’re both equally tall receivers who could make intriguing developmental prospects.

ILB Josh Ross

The undrafted free agent from Michigan has performed his way into the roster photo, rating as the major graded rookie of the preseason, in accordance to Professional Soccer Target. He has drawn unique praise for his go protection, a weak point for the team’s inside of linebackers in new seasons, and potential customers the Ravens with 9 tackles.

Ross ranks driving Patrick Queen, Josh Bynes and Malik Harrison on the depth chart at inside linebacker, but do not be shocked if he beats out Kristian Welch for the No. 4 place. Defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is a significant lover from their time collectively at Michigan, and Harbaugh mentioned that Ross has “shown up in games.” He will in all probability play early and generally in opposition to Washington as he tries to make his closing argument. Count on to see him on the Ravens’ follow squad if he does not make their 53-person roster.

DT Isaiah Mack

Mack bulled his way into the Cardinals’ backfield a number of situations in the 2nd preseason sport, setting up on his solid functionality all through coaching camp. He’s possibly on the outside searching in for the Ravens’ 53-male roster, with Calais Campbell, Michael Pierce, Justin Madubuike, Travis Jones, Brent Urban and Broderick Washington in advance of him. But with Jones in jeopardy of lacking the beginning of the season due to the fact of a knee sprain, might the Ravens obtain a way to retain Mack in the image?

Another impressive outing from him would make the Ravens feel challenging and also provide as an audition for other teams hunting to incorporate an inside lineman. Mack looks like an NFL participant, no matter of the place he ends up.

DB Ar’Darius Washington

It’s effortless to get dropped in the Ravens’ star-studded secondary, and Washington started off education camp on the shelf as he labored his way again from a foot harm. He returned to game action towards the Cardinals, primarily at cornerback, and generated some awesome times in coverage in the fourth quarter.

Even if Washington builds on that work with an outstanding sport from the Commanders, he might be a extensive shot to make the 53-man roster, with as lots of as 11 safeties and cornerbacks forward of him on the depth chart. But Macdonald preaches the worth of versatility, and Washington plays many places.

OLB Daelin Hayes

The Ravens would adore a person to move ahead on the edge, where Odafe Oweh and Justin Houston are the only gamers they can depend on for Week 1. Hayes, a 2021 fifth-spherical decide on, had a main possibility to drive for actively playing time this summertime but has not taken benefit. Apart from a handful of flashes as a bull rusher and edge setter, he basically has not built a lot of memorable performs in follow or in the two preseason online games.

The great information for Hayes is that possibility continues to be with Tyus Bowser nevertheless doing work back from a torn Achilles tendon. If he plays well from the Commanders — a large if, taking into consideration he skipped Wednesday’s exercise — and strings together a couple of very good practices, he could generate meaningful snaps in Week 1. Now is the time for him, simply because Bowser and 2nd-round decide David Ojabo are on the way.

Preseason, Week 3

COMMANDERS@RAVENS

Saturday, 7 p.m.

Television: Ch. 11

Radio: 97.9 FM, 101.5 FM, 1090 AM

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