Bradley Bozeman: Ravens ‘Taking Every Appropriate Step’ To Ensure Safe Environment

After cornerback Marlon Humphrey tested positive for COVID-19, the Ravens and NFL needed to act fast in order to keep everyone else on the team safe from the virus. Baltimore left guard Bradley Bozeman believes the Ravens are taking the proper steps in dealing with the positive test so that they can play the Indianapolis Colts Nov. 8 with what is now a weaker roster due to illness and injury.

With Humphrey testing positive, it was essential that the team follow the league’s health and safety protocols to ensure the virus hadn’t spread to anyone else. So far, no other Ravens have tested positive. Bozeman stressed that the Ravens organization is not taking the positive test lightly.

“You have to work out in very small groups [in the weight room]. I think it’s less than eight people. You have to wear your mask the entire time,” Bozeman said on Glenn Clark Radio Nov. 3. “They’re being very cautious, so I don’t think they are being lackadaisical with it because they are taking every appropriate step to get the work in but also be safe.”

Besides Humphrey, seven other players were added to the reserve/COVID-19 list due to having been in close contact with the cornerback. Coaches are conducting meetings over Zoom leading up to the Colts game, but outside of the players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the team is practicing as it normally does. Bozeman emphasized the importance of ensuring the virus had not spread beyond Humphrey.

“It’s serious, especially for our team. If we don’t play, we don’t get paid. If we don’t play, it puts us behind the eight ball. If it’s our fault, we automatically lose the game,” Bozeman said. “It’s kind of all those things into one.”

Bozeman also touched on the season-ending ankle injury suffered by Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley, one of the best in the league at his position. For Bozeman, who lines up next to Stanley on every play, it was a tough blow for him, too.

“Ronnie was such a big part — or is still such a big part — of our offensive line, our room, the leadership on our team,” Bozeman said. “Unfortunately it’s just part of the game. I felt for Ronnie. … The pain, you could obviously see. You knew it was serious. I felt for him. It was just a sad moment. But it’s all about pulling … together and getting the job done for him, because if he was out there he would be doing the same thing for you.”

With Stanley out, the Ravens decided to move usual right tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to the left side of the line. Brown was drafted by the Ravens in 2018 (along with Bozeman) and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl in 2019. Bozeman believes Brown has the skills to protect quarterback Lamar Jackson’s blind side.

“I have no doubt about it, that Orlando is going to be one of the best left tackles in the league going forward this year,” Bozeman said. “Me and Orlando came in together. We’ve played together. We’ve struggled together. We’ve studied together. We’ve done everything through this whole process, and that guy’s [done] nothing but come through everything strong and just continue to grow and mature as an athlete. So I’m excited about the opportunity, and I know everyone else on our [offensive] line is too.”

And of course, Bozeman was sick about the 28-24 loss against the archrival Pittsburgh Steelers. (The Alabama graduate even stated that he hates the Steelers more than Auburn at this point.) Although it was a close game, Bozeman noted that the Ravens beat the Steelers in every category except two – and those two ultimately cost them the game.

“We won every single statistical battle besides two and that’s points and turnovers — and our turnovers were our problem,” Bozeman said. “Regardless of who had the turnover or what the situation was, it’s on all of us. It’s our job to keep Lamar clean as possible, to get to the ball, to be able to recover that ball when it does come out. It’s on all of us.”

With the loss hanging over Bozeman’s head until the Ravens can redeem themselves against the Steelers on Thanksgiving, Bozeman had one simple thought on how to get the season moving in the right direction again, starting against the Colts.

“We have to do better, we have to play better,” Bozeman said, “and we just have to come out this week and get ready to play and practice regardless of the circumstances.”

For more from Bozeman, listen to the full interview here:

Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox