The Baltimore Ravens come into their Week 3 matchup against the Dallas Cowboys had some big question marks. The Ravens will need all the help they can get as they go up against a Cowboys team that can perform well on both sides of the ball. The Ravens are winless and are seeking their first victory in Dallas this weekend.
The Cowboys tilt will be incredibly tough. Unfortunately for the Ravens, it almost feels like this game is a must-win as their schedule does them no favors for the next couple of weeks. The Cowboys will look to get back to their winning ways after a demoralizing 44-19 loss last week against the New Orleans Saints.
The injury report released today suggests the Ravens could struggle mightily against a Dallas pass rush with one of the best edge rushers in the NFL to do it.
Ravens come into Week 3 with massive question marks
The Ravens released their injury report Wednesday evening. The initial reaction is that if things stay the same, this will be one incredibly difficult game for the Ravens. Starting left tackle Ronnie Stanley missed practice today with an ankle injury. Key defensive pieces safety Kyle Hamilton and linebacker Kyle Van Noy did not participate today either.
Those are some key players missing from practice, and the offensive line has been a major concern all season. Losing Ronnie Stanley to injury is a worst-case scenario for quarterback Lamar Jackson. If Stanley can’t suit up, Cowboys star defensive end Micah Parsons could dominate the backfield. After Raiders’ Maxx Crosby tore through the line last week, just think what Parsons might do this time around.
How will the Ravens protect Jackson? How will they run the ball with Derrick Henry if the line is exposed the entire game? Stanley is their only legitimate offensive tackle. Things could go downhill quickly Sunday afternoon.
Adding insult to injury, the Ravens are also without key defensive players who could help contain Dallas’s explosive offense. Van Noy’s absence weakens the pass rush while losing Hamilton severely limits Baltimore’s options in the secondary. This isn't the ideal situation for a winless Ravens team that needs to come away with a win this week.
Some good news comes with rookie linebacker Adisa Isaac who fully participated in practice today after a hamstring injury has held him back throughout the offseason. He could get some run in Sunday's game alongside linebacker Odafe Oweh if Van Noy is ruled out.
The Cowboys have one of the most intimidating offenses in the NFL, and the Ravens can’t afford to start the season 0-3. While there’s hope that Stanley, Hamilton, and Van Noy improve as the week goes on, the Ravens are facing serious uncertainty heading into the weekend. If these key players remain sidelined, the team’s season could be in jeopardy.
