Ailing Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco won't play in the preseason as he continues to recover from a back injury. According to the team, Flacco remains on track to be under center on Sept. 10 when the Ravens open the regular season against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Two other offensive players, however, won't be playing in that game.
Continuing a staggering run of roster losses, the Ravens announced Friday that both starting left guard Alex Lewis and emerging rookie wide receiver Tim White will miss the entire season due to injuries that will require surgery.
They become the eighth and ninth players since June 1 that the Ravens have lost for the year due to injury, suspension or retirement.
Lewis, who started eight games as a rookie, tore the labrum in his shoulder and it was not responding to treatment, according to the team. He'll have season-ending surgery next week to repair a torn labrum, yet another blow to an offensive line in flux.
The Ravens had already lost starting center candidate John Urschel, who decided to retire on the morning of the team's first training camp workout, and rookie fourth-round guard Nico Siragusa, who tore up his left knee early in training camp.
At this point, it's unclear what the Ravens will do at left guard with Lewis sidelined.
White's injury is a major bummer because the undrafted rookie out of Arizona State has been one of the team's most impressive wide receivers throughout training camp.
He caught a 33-yard touchdown pass in the Ravens' 23-3 victory over the Washington Redskins in Thursday night's preseason opener. According to the Ravens, White injured his thumb in the game and will need season-ending surgery.
As for Flacco, the team said his back was recently re-examined and he's making good progress. The plan is for him to start practicing at some point this preseason, but he'll be held out of games until the regular season begins.
