The Ravens’ rookies are officially on a win streak as Baltimore moved to 4-1 after a thrilling Sunday Night Football overtime win in Atlanta, 30-23. Here’s how the rookies performed.
OG Vega Ioane
Oh, ho-hum, just a rookie offensive lineman in his fifth NFL game, starting at center for only the second time in his collegiate and professional career and allowing zero pressures for two games in a row. It’s simply ridiculous how much this rookie has stepped up and impacted this offense. Beyond the three big weapons
of Lamar Jackson, Zay Flowers, and Derrick Henry, Ioane is probably the next most impactful player on this offense considering all that he’s done. An offensive lineman has never won Offensive Rookie of the Year, but there needs to be real conversations about Ioane.
OLB Zion Young
It’s been quiet for Young since the Cowboys game. He’s continued to excel against the run, but despite a larger opportunity with Trey Hendrickson out of the lineup, Young hasn’t rushed the passer well with just one win in the last two weeks. The second-rounder’s pass rush was known to need work coming out of college, and it’s clear he’s not quite there yet. But Young’s role as a run stopper has been well-earned and should continue to grow as the Ravens reserve Hendrickson and Mike Green for pass rushing snaps.
WR Elijah Sarratt
Sarratt went back to being a healthy scratch against the Falcons. With Ja’Kobi Lane’s return imminent, it will likely take an injury in the room for Sarratt to get another activation this season.
TE Matt Hibner
Hibner didn’t get any targets in this matchup but stayed active with 10 pass snaps and 20 run-blocking snaps. Hibner hurt his hand early in the game that saw him carted off the field. He eventually returned and continued to receive blocking snaps, though his hand injury could have factored into his lack of targets. It remains to be seen how Hibner’s role could grow with Druham Smythe out for the year and with Ja’Kobi Lane returning for to establish his own target share. The Ravens also signed veteran Nick Vannett from their practice squad to help fill Smythe’s role.
TE Josh Cuevas
Cuevas nabbed two catches on two targets for 26 yards, 22 of those coming after the catch. Cuevas’ role also remained similar to weeks past, just 19 snaps in the game, nine of them run blocking.
CB Chandler Rivers
Rivers’s snap count decreased from its recent rise over the last couple of weeks. Rivers played just 19 snaps, 18 of them against the pass. The Ravens clearly wanted Rivers off the field against obvious run looks in a concerted effort to contain Bijan Robinson for the game. Rivers seemed to struggle in coverage this week as well, which might have contributed to his lower snap count as well.
P Ryan Eckley
Eckley had four punts, averaging just 44.3 yards on his punts, but pinning three of them inside the 20. Eckley’s punting was vital to giving the Ravens’ defense a chance to force the Falcons to go on long drives and force field goals throughout the game.
Wide receiver Ja’Kobi Lane and running back Adam Randall remain on injured reserve, with defensive tackle Rayshaun Benny on the practice squad. Lane returned to practice on Wednesday and could be activated to play against the Cleveland Browns this weekend.
