The Ravens play their second of three preseason games this coming Saturday, Aug. 17, against the Atlanta Falcons at noon at M&T Bank Stadium. After several weeks of OTAs, minicamp and training camp workouts, coaches and front office personnel have a good idea who will comprise most of the 53-man roster. To the extent that a handful of roster decisions remain, the final two preseason games — against Atlanta and then at Green Bay Aug. 24 — might go a long way in deciding who ends up on the right side of the roster bubble.
When the Ravens take the field against Atlanta in their second preseason game, here are three players to watch:
OLB ADISA ISAAC
Isaac isn’t on the roster bubble as a third-round rookie draft pick, but the Ravens are eager to see what they have in the former Penn State star. After beginning training camp on the Non-Football Injury list and missing the first two weeks of camp because of a hamstring injury that dates back to the spring, Isaac has been steadily ramping up his workload and could make his preseason debut against the Falcons.
Third-year edge rusher David Ojabo did not play in the first preseason game as he awaited medical clearance from doctors dating to an ACL injury last fall, and it’s fair to question whether the Ravens have enough teeth at their edge rush position behind Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy. A healthy Isaac could help begin to answer that question.
WR ANTHONY MILLER
The Ravens signed Miller just last week, but he has stepped right in and played as well as any of the receivers on the roster bubble. Miller, 29, was a second-round pick by the Chicago Bears in 2018 and has 140 career catches. He caught seven touchdown passes as a rookie. But Miller has bounced around in the past few years and was cut by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this spring. He hasn’t played in a regular-season NFL game since 2021.
With summer signee Russell Gage still sidelined, Miller should get plenty of run against Atlanta. Rashod Bateman, Zay Flowers, Nelson Agholor are locks to make the team, and Devontez Walker is probably a lock as well as a fourth-round draft pick. Deonte Harty is considered the top return specialist, and Tylan Wallace is a top special teamer who can also handle returns. Depending on how many receivers the Ravens keep, Miller could be competing for a final spot with a handful of other receivers.
DB DAMARION “PEPE” WILLIAMS
Williams is probably on the roster bubble given the depth of the Ravens’ secondary, but injuries have created opportunities on the training camp practice fields and Williams has come on strong.
In Tuesday’s practice, Williams broke quickly, dove, and got a hand in to break up a pass intended for Malik Cunningham. Plays like that have been more and more common for Williams, who is coming back from a lost 2023 season. He had ankle surgery in August and played in just one game, the regular-season finale, before landing back on injured reserve.
Williams, a fourth-round pick in 2022, is best suited as a slot corner, and with Arthur Maulet (knee) most likely sidelined into the regular season, there is an opening there. Williams has also been working as a punt returner, and any special teams contribution will help his roster chances.
The Ravens’ depth in the secondary always seems to be tested, so keeping an extra defensive back makes a lot of sense.
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