OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum was back on the Ravens practice field on Monday, Aug. 26, for the first time in three weeks, but All-Pro tight end Mark Andrews remained sidelined as the team ramped up preparations for the season opener at Kansas City on Thursday, Sept. 5.
The team has moved into regular-season mode, meaning media are permitted to watch just the first 20 minutes or so, which usually includes special teams and individual drills.
A total of 20 players on the 90-man roster were not on the practice fields, with some sitting out with injuries and others among the team’s first roster cuts.
The team announced it had released seven players: punter Jack Browning, tight ends Riley Sharp and Mike Rigerman, offensive tackle Darrell Simpson, wide receivers Russell Gage and Sean Ryan and defensive tackle Tramel Walthour.
With those cuts, the roster stood at 83 players and must be trimmed to 53 by 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 27.
Linderbaum’s return to practice is encouraging with the Ravens just 10 days away from the season opener. He had not practiced since Aug. 1 and wore a red noncontact jersey as he went through drills with the other offensive linemen.
Head coach John Harbaugh had said last week that Linderbaum, who has been dealing a neck injury, was “on schedule,” with the team pointing toward his availability against Kansas City.
Linderbaum’s presence would be a major plus for an offensive line that is still a work in progress. Other than Pro Bowl left tackle Ronnie Stanley, the Ravens could start three linemen with zero NFL experience at their positions.
Andrew Vorhees, who missed his entire rookie season recovering from a torn ACL, is expected to start at left guard; Daniel Faalele, who has NFL experience at tackle but has never played guard in the regular season, is the projected starter at right guard; and rookie second-round draft pick Roger Rosengarten could be the starter at right tackle. Patrick Mekari started the preseason opener at right tackle and could also be an option there.
Harbaugh said after practice that the decisions have been made regarding the starting offensive line, but he wouldn’t divulge them.
“I’m not going to make any announcements on any starting announcements going into the Chiefs game,” Harbaugh said. “What would be the point? We’ll just go play the game.”
Harbaugh also deflected questions about injuries regarding Andrews or safety Kyle Hamilton, who missed practice after getting shaken up in the joint practice with the Packers on Aug. 22, other than to say, “There are no serious injuries.”
“We’re not really going to get into too much talk about the injuries, because why?” Harbaugh said. “It’s a competitive disadvantage to get too deep into what your guys’ injuries are. That puts them not in the best position, competitively, and us the same thing. We like to keep our opponents guessing a little bit. That’s a benefit to us.”
NOTEBOOK
‘QUIETER’ TEAM GRIEVES D’ALESSANDRIS: Harbaugh said the team was “a little quieter today” a day after the death of beloved offensive line coach Joe D’Alessandris. Harbaugh said offensive lineman Patrick Mekari spoke to the team about the man they called “Joe D.”
“His memory is going to be on our minds, and it should be, and it should motivate us,” Harbaugh said.
He said the team will dedicate the season to D’Alessandris and former wide receiver and kick returner Jacoby Jones, who died earlier this summer.
“[We will] do everything we can to make them proud of us when they’re watching from where they’re watching,” Harbaugh said. “So, we appreciate those two great men very much.”
NEW QB RULE VETOED BY NFLPA: The NFL Players Association reportedly has vetoed a new rule that would allow a team to keep a third “emergency” quarterback on the practice squad, with an unlimited number of elevations. As a result, the rule reverts to the 2023 version, which means any emergency third quarterback must be on the 53-man roster.
The Ravens had been expected to keep just two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, but Harbaugh said the veto could change the Ravens’ roster strategy.
“It sure could. It just depends,” said Harbaugh, noting that he only learned of the NFLPA veto as he left the practice field Aug. 26. “We were kind of counting on the rule. … [The NFLPA] vetoed it for whatever good reason that they had, and we’ll have to change our thinking on that.”
SAMAC RETURNS: Center Nick Samac was back on the practice field just two days after leaving the preseason game at Green Bay on a cart. Harbaugh said Samac, a rookie seventh-round draft pick who had been coming on strong in the past two weeks, sprained his ankle against Green Bay but practiced at full speed Monday.
Photo Credit: Kenya Allen/PressBox