The regular season has a way of resetting the conversation. Strong training camps don't guarantee September success, and preseason highlights don't automatically translate once the games begin to count.
Still, momentum matters. Confidence matters. Development matters. The Baltimore Ravens enter Week 1 with several players trending in the right direction after productive summers. Some are expected to play major roles immediately. Others may need opportunities to find their footing.
Either way, the organization has plenty of reasons to feel encouraged about where certain players stand entering the season opener against the Indianapolis Colts. Here's another look at a handful of about 20 or so guys who qualify.
LaJohntay Wester, wide receiver
The Ravens know exactly where the football
is most likely to go. Zay Flowers remains the headliner of the receiving corps, Rashod Bateman enters the season with significant expectations, and Ja'Kobi Lane has generated plenty of excitement since arriving in Baltimore.
That doesn't mean LaJohntay Wester should be overlooked.
Wester quietly enjoyed one of the better preseasons on the roster, catching seven passes for 45 yards and two touchdowns. More importantly, he consistently looked comfortable whenever opportunities arrived. The Ravens won't ask him to carry the passing game, but it's reassuring to know they have a player capable of contributing if defenses focus too heavily on the bigger names ahead of him.
Mike Green, EDGE
Few Ravens enter the season carrying more expectations than Mike Green. The second-year pass rusher now has an NFL season behind him and appears positioned for a larger role within Baltimore's defense.
Both executive vice president and general manager Eric DeCosta and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver have expressed confidence in Green's development, andthe organization believes a Year 2 leap could be coming.
Baltimore has invested heavily in building one of the league's deepest pass-rushing groups. If Green becomes the disruptive player coaches believe he can be, the Ravens' defense could become even more difficult for opposing offenses to handle.
Vega Ioane, guard
This one almost feels too obvious. Every training camp seems to produce one rookie who quickly convinces observers that he belongs. For Baltimore, that player has been Vega Ioane.
In some ways it seems as though we didn't exercise the brain cells enough by including him on this list, but come on. After what we've seen and heard, leaving him off also feels like malpractice.
So forgive us while we state the obvious. Calling someone a sure thing can bring bad luck, but if there ever was a sure thing, it would be this young man. Nothing is guaranteed in the NFL, but Ioane has done everything possible to justify the excitement surrounding him. If he performs as many within the organization expect, Baltimore may have found another long-term building block for its offensive front.
Aeneas Peebles, defensive tackle
The Ravens have never been shy about rotating defensive linemen, which could create opportunities for Aeneas Peebles sooner rather than later. It would seem wise, as Anthony Weaver has already given him Pro-Bowl comparisons.
The rookie defensive tackle consistently generated positive reviews throughout training camp and flashed the quickness and disruptive ability that made him an intriguing addition in the first place. His role remains somewhat undefined entering Week 1, but that shouldn't be confused with a lack of confidence from the coaching staff.
Baltimore appears genuinely excited about Peebles' future. The only remaining question is how quickly those opportunities begin arriving.
Worth mentioning: Teddye Buchanan and Nnamdi Madubuike
Momentum isn't always measured by statistics, splash plays, or highlight-reel moments. It can ride the hot streak of consecutive Lamar Jackson completions, a Derrick Henry avalanche vs. a tired defense, or the return of two important pieces from rehabilitation.
Sometimes momentum is simply getting back on the field. Both Teddye Buchanan and Nnamdi Madubuike are working their way back after significant injuries. The Ravens will continue exercising patience, but the fact that both players are trending toward participation is encouraging in its own right. Their recoveries represent the kind of momentum that impacts an entire locker room.
These are two highly respected figures inside the organization. Every positive step forward they take is celebrated by teammates, coaches, and staff members who understand what it took to get back.
Final thought
The Ravens don't need every player on this list to become a star in Week 1. That's not how NFL seasons work. What they do need is for the progress shown throughout the spring and summer to continue once the games begin to matter.
Contenders are rarely built on star power alone. They're built on young players taking the next step, depth pieces answering when called upon, and injured contributors finding their way back. Baltimore believes several members of its roster are positioned to do exactly that. If those upward trajectories continue against Indianapolis and beyond, the Ravens may discover that some of their most important developments began long before the regular season ever kicked off.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens vs. Colts: 6 players carrying offseason momentum into Week 1
