According to first-year head coach Jessie Minter, the Baltimore Ravens will start Jovaughn Gwyn at center over Ethan Pocic, which is a less than ideal situation for starting quarterback Lamar Jackson and their offense.
Originally a 2023 7th round pick of the Atlanta Falcons, Gwyn was signed earlier this offseason by the Ravens. He was competing for Baltimore’s starting center job against Pocic, as well as former
Colts backup center Danny Pinter, who was lost to a season-ending torn patellar tendon suffered during a late August training camp practice.
During his 3-year career, the 27-year-old Gwyn has appeared in 19 career games, formerly with the Atlanta Falcons, but never started in the NFL yet—meaning he’s rather inexperienced during his first year starting with the Ravens.
At right guard, Baltimore is already expected to start talented rookie 2026 first round pick Vega Ioane, so Gwyn’s additional greenness only adds to the inexperience of the Ravens interior offensive line collectively.
The Colts defensive line could be poised to take advantage, particularly with a veteran savvy interior tandem of DeForest Buckner and Grover Stewart. Not to mention, subpackage interior pass rusher Ade Adebawore can be a handful situationally as an interior pass rusher, with his first-step twitch, quickness, and explosiveness.
If the Colts interior can help shut down Derrick Henry and the Ravens ground game, while getting to Jackson early and often within the passing pocket, it would be a big boost to the Colts ultimately starting the season 1-0.
