7 things we learned from Ravens’ preseason finale loss to Packers

minh | Baltimore Ravens
August 25, 2024

There were numerous revealing takeaways from the Baltimore Ravens’ 30-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Saturday afternoon in the final week of the 2024 preseason.

With a handful of starting spots and several key roles up for grabs, the team got more indications of who the front runners should be, who can be relied upon and who perhaps can’t be counted on to fill their needs.

Here are seven of the main things that can be learned from Saturday’s lopsided exhibition defeat victory.

Trenton Simpson showcases every-down ability

Simpson played much more and longer in this game than expected given the expanded role he is set to play in the regular season. Yet again, in extended action, he put together another performance demonstrating he is to assume Patrick Queen’s spot next two-time All-Pro Roquan Smith.

Simpson made several impressive plays all over the field, displaying the complete and well-rounded skillset of an upper-echelon off-ball linebacker. He tied for second-most total tackles on the team (6), registered a quarterback hit, broke up a pass and intercepted another.

Josh Johnson continues to inspire confidence as primary backup

While the veteran journeyman didn’t boast a perfect completion percentage like he did last week, his performance in the last extended action he’ll hopefully see this year was impressive all the same. He led the Ravens’ only scoring drive of the entire game and proved once again just how much of a smooth operator of the offense he can be from clean and muddy pockets alike. Johnson went 5-of-7 for 71 passing yards, a touchdown, no interceptions, 10.1 yards per attempt and a passer rating of 143.5 which was the highest of any signal caller in the game for either team.

Following the lackluster and turnover-riddled performance of rookie seventh-rounder Devin Leary and the limited playing time of undrafted rookie Emory Jones, the Ravens are most likely going to carry just two quarterbacks into the regular season. Given the fact neither rookie put together a robust resume of promising play in the preseason, both will probably clear waivers and be eligible to be signed back on the practice squad if released.

Ravens No. 3 running back to start season might not be on current roster

One of the most unfortunate injury-related storylines to emerge from this game is the broken foot suffered by second-year running back Owen Wright who will need to undergo surgery to repair a hairline fracture. While the setback isn’t of the season-ending variety, it will cause him to miss several weeks which hurts the Ravens backfield depth because he was in line to win the No. 3 spot behind veterans Derrick Henry and Justice Hill.

Following a strong training camp and impressive outings in the preseason both on offense and special teams, the local Maryland product was poised to hold down the fort until Keaton Mitchell could return to action. Wright had outperformed fifth-round rookie Rasheen Ali—who missed the last two preseason games with a stinger suffered in the first—both in practice and exhibition action.

The question that remains is if the Ravens are going to give Ali the No. 3 by default. They could keep undrafted rookie Chris Collier who has been decent in the preseason or veteran John Kelly who signed two weeks ago. A third potential option could be exploring the veteran free agent market.

Potential and projected o-line starters remain inconsistent in run blocking

Aside from a miscommunication that left a free blitzer coming off the left edge that resulted in a disastrous strip-sack fumble of Leary, the pass protection by the Ravens offensive line was solid for most of the first half. The blocking units consisted of players vying for starting or at least primary backup roles and while they were able to pop a couple of runs for modest gains, they continued to struggle to move the ball on the ground as a group.

Concerns about the status of the Ravens’ first team offensive line after moving on from three starters this offseason was and still is the biggest concern from the outside looking in. Even though those who have yet to be proclaimed the starters will be playing alongside a pair of Pro Bowlers in Tyler Linderbaum and Ronnie Stanley, seeing them not be able to assert their will on backup defensive linemen and execute vanilla preseason game glans was concerning. A rotation at one or more spots to begin the regular season until full-time starting roles are seized could be a course of action.

Tylan Wallace slams door on job security uncertainty

Despite being a core special teams contributor for the Ravens since entering the league, Wallace has had to fight to make the roster in each of the past two seasons. In both years, he rose to the occasion and proved he could be an ace on special teams as well as a playmaker on offense if given the chance.

Against the Packers, Wallace was targeted just once and made the absolute most of the opportunity. After hauling in a pass from Johnson over the middle, he outran the rest of the defense to the corner of the end zone and clipped the the ball past the pylon to score the Ravens’ first and only points of the day.

Wallace finished the preseason with 105 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Undrafted rookie defenders make strong final case

The preseason finale serves as the last audition for players on the roster bubble; for first-year pros who didn’t get to hear their names called on draft day, it means even more. This could be their last chance to prove they belong in the NFL before having to join the workforce or try to stay close to the game in another league.

Two undrafted rookies who made the most of their final exhibition action were defensive back Beau Brade and outside linebacker Joe Evans. Both players made impressive and impact plays on defense and special teams.

Brade led the team in tackles for the second week with eight, including seven solos. Meanwhile, upfront, Evans brought the heat off both edges numerous times and notched two quarterback hits and five tackles.

David Ojabo could be a difference-maker off the edge

After impressing in his return to action following a 331-day hiatus last week, Ojabo didn’t waste any time building up his confidence and making his presence felt in Green Bay. On the first play of the Packers’ second drive, Ojabo quickly shed the block of a tight end with a swift dip and rip move to apply pressure on Packers quarterback Sean Clifford which forced an incompletion.

The 2022 second-rounder has had his first two seasons in the league ravaged by injuries but is now poised to be a potential difference-maker for a pass-rushing unit that led the league in sacks last season. The Ravens will need many of its younger talents such as Ojabo and others to step up after losing three-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney in free agency during the offseason.

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