With esteemed veteran defenders linebacker C.J. Mosley, linebacker Terrell Suggs and safety Eric Weddle not returning for the Baltimore Ravens in the 2019 season, the Ravens defense has suddenly become devoid of veteran leadership.
In their place, someone has to step up. According to new Baltimore safety Earl Thomas — one of the unit’s new leaders in his own right — Ravens linebacker Patrick Onwuasor has to be one of those players that carries the torch.
“The first thing Earl said was like, ‘We’re going to work on your leadership,’” Onwuasor said at a Tuesday press conference following Baltimore’s second day of their offseason workout program.
In addition to Onwuasor, Thomas — who joined Baltimore as a free agent in March — has also already linked up with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Baltimore safety Tony Jefferson, with whom he practiced with individually before joining up with the team for their workouts this week.
“He contacted me on Instagram,” Jackson said. “He tried to chop it up with me, talk to me and stuff like that.”
“I can tell you, he’s a really serious guy,” Jefferson said of Thomas. “He also has a lighter side to him, too. I’m starting to get to know him a little better.”
At Tuesday’s press conference, Onwuasor — a third-year veteran — also indicated that he was willing to take up Mosley’s role as the defensive play caller, and said that he planned to text Mosley for advice.
Despite the daunting task of trying the follow in the footsteps of the Ravens’ old guard, Onwuasor seems up to the task.
“It’s going to hurt us a little bit,” Onwuasor said to the Baltimore Sun’s Mike Preston. “Those guys were the leaders from the first day, but [Suggs] said it is time for the new breed, that it’s time for us to start our own legacy and carry on the tradition of playing great defense.”
“Now I have to become a leader, because guys like Siz and C.J. were our leaders for so long,” Onwuasor said.
