The Baltimore Ravens’ preseason is nearly finished as they take on the Philadelphia Eagles in the third of four games. That means for many players, they’re running out of opportunities to make an impression and find a way on the 53-man roster. If they can’t show up under the lights in Philadelphia, several players might not be allowed back on the field in the final preseason game to protect the Ravens from giving out injury settlements.
Here are seven players that absolutely need to have great games against the Eagles.
QB, Trace McSorley
McSorley is a unique case. The Ravens didn’t necessarily draft him because they needed him at quarterback but because he offers so much with his versatility. They’ve put him at punt returner and there was some talk about playing him on defense. Add to it Robert Griffin III’s thumb injury and many believe McSorley is practically a lock to make the team already.
But with so much depth on defense, other players pretty firmly in place at punt returner and Griffin expected back in time for Week 1 of the regular season, McSorley’s main sticking points seem to be debunked quickly. In my opinion, McSorley has to make the team as a quarterback first and foremost.
That means he needs to become a little more consistent under center even though he’s shown some flashes along the way. One of the biggest things he needs to improve upon is staring down his receivers, something he’s done in each preseason game, ending in interceptions. McSorley could find a role on the team much like Taysom Hill has with the New Orleans Saints as an option quarterback but no defense is going to buy him throwing the ball in the regular season if he can’t improve there now.
Look for McSorley to settle down in his third game, make some big throws down the field and not turn the football over. If he can do those things, he could put himself on the 53-man roster.
RB, Kenneth Dixon
Before training camp started, I said Dixon had a tough road ahead of him this offseason. After two games, Dixon hasn’t done much to help himself out, especially in the face of Justice Hill impressing.
So far this preseason, Dixon has carried the ball 10 times for 35 yards. That’s not going to cut it by itself and Dixon doesn’t have much leeway for mediocre production. Though he’s shown some good burst and had a few good runs over the two preseason games, he’s shown nothing new to his game and there just really isn’t a role for him that isn’t covered by Mark Ingram, Gus Edwards and now Hill.
Even if Dixon does have the benefit of the doubt when it comes to producing on the field, his injury history is beyond concerning. Last week against the Green Bay Packers, Dixon got up limping. Though he returned to the game, he ended up missing some practice this week. For a guy who has been routinely injured throughout his career, getting injured in limited reps only strengthens the notion Dixon just can’t stay healthy even if his job depends on it.
To turn that impression around, Dixon needs to come out swinging against the Eagles. He has to bust off a few long runs, show serious power, catch everything thrown his way and most importantly, be a stellar blocker. If any of those things don’t happen, I fully expect Baltimore to shop him around for a late-round pick to a team that needs a little more depth and is willing to take a chance on a guy with a year remaining on his rookie deal.
CB, Maurice Canady
With the injury to Tavon Young, it really opens the door for Canady to make this team. Before that, his injury history and lack of production this offseason had it looking like he was going to be a pretty obvious cut at roster trim down time.
But Canady isn’t alone on that front and he needs to set himself apart. According to PFF, Canady has allowed three receptions on four targets, which isn’t a good look for a guy playing against backups in preseason when he’d see much better competition in the regular season.
In order to keep himself in the competition for what is likely one of the final few open roster spots, Canady needs to show up on special teams and defense. He’ll need to step up to make tackles in the run game and a big interception would really help his stock. But he also needs to make some plays on special teams considering his main competition are guys like Justin Bethel and Cyrus Jones.
DB, Bennett Jackson
Jackson has already put himself on camera with an interception against the Jacksonville Jaguars. But with things heating up and the secondary being full, Jackson needs to do more to warrant being kept over other guys. He’ll have to find a niche role on Baltimore’s defense as a slot defender. But he has playing experience on his side which might lean the Ravens towards keeping him if he can continue to make big plays.
He’s played a good number of snaps in each preseason game this year and has allowed just two receptions on the five targets he’s had come his way. If he can come down with another interception and stay healthy, he might just find his way onto the roster this season instead of the practice squad.
WR, Michael Floyd
Floyd has looked alright throughout training camp. He hasn’t necessarily been the most impressive wide receiver on the field at any single point but he’s been consistent, which might be the most important thing for a Ravens’ wide receiver corps that has struggled in that area.
Floyd needs to record some catches in this game and continue to put in work on special teams. He might not necessarily like the idea of having to make the 53-man roster via special teams but that’s where his career is at right now.
OLB, Shane Ray
Ray came to Baltimore after an injury-filled career with the Denver Broncos. Sadly, his time with the Ravens hasn’t been much better. Though he hasn’t suffered any major injuries, he’s missed a few practices and hasn’t dominated in any preseason games. With Pernell McPhee stepping up, Jaylon Ferguson starting to find his groove and both Tyus Bowser and Tim Williams having the benefit of the doubt as Ravens’ draft picks, Ray needs to push someone else out of the way to definitively make the roster.
Ray has two quarterback hits and a half sack over two games, primarily playing against the reserves. For a former first-round pick, that’s not the type of production anyone was hoping for. Against the Eagles, Ray really needs a sack or two to warrant being kept on as a pass-rush specialist. If he can expand his game a little more and make plays in the run game and play the flat in the passing game, he’ll have a little more leeway on his pass-rushing production.
Ray needs to put himself in the spotlight or he’ll fade off the team.
DT, Gerald Willis
Willis was expected to be the main undrafted free agent to make Baltimore’s roster this season. With training camp finished and preseason nearly over, Willis has disappeared. Considering he was once figured to be a mid-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, Willis not making a splash is playing right into his fallen draft stock.
Willis was never really going to put up crazy stats. It’s just not what the Ravens have their defensive linemen do. Instead, Willis needs to eat up space and double teams so the linebackers can scrape down the line and shoot in for tackles. Given the fact he’s played just 15 snaps (26%) against the Jaguars and eight snaps against the Packers (13%) with absolutely no special teams value, it points to his status on the team.
Willis is still a great candidate for the practice squad but in order to make the 53-man roster, he’s going to have to eat Philadelphia’s running backs for dinner tonight. A sack wouldn’t hurt his chances either. He’s going to have to be the player of the game to even have a shot of making the 53-man roster at this point.
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