The Baltimore Ravens have completed more than a week of physical training camp practices. Saturday's preseason opener against the Philadelphia Eagles will provide Jesse Minter and his staff with a different type of evaluation.
The question is how many established starters will participate.
Baltimore has several stars with nothing to prove during an exhibition game. The Ravens also have newcomers learning new systems, rookies competing for important roles and several position battles that won't be settled until later in the preseason. Here is an early projection of which Ravens could sit and which players have legitimate reasons to play against Philadelphia.
Players who could sit
Lamar Jackson
Jackson hasn't appeared in a preseason game since 2021, and there is little reason to believe
Baltimore will change its approach Saturday.
Declan Doyle's new offense creates an argument for giving Jackson limited work, but the Ravens can generate valuable repetitions during three upcoming joint practices. Protecting their two-time MVP should remain the priority.
Derrick Henry
Henry is preparing for his 11th NFL season and has already secured a future place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He doesn't need preseason carries to prove that he's ready.
Sitting Henry would create opportunities for Rasheen Ali, Adam Randall, Elijah Tau-Tolliver and Dontae McMillan. The Ravens need those snaps to evaluate their depth behind Henry and Justice Hill.
Zay Flowers
Flowers should sit after suffering a quad contusion during practice. Minter described the Pro Bowl receiver as day-to-day and said he isn't expected to miss an extended period.
That positive outlook gives Baltimore no reason to rush Flowers back for an exhibition game. His absence would create more targets for Ja'Kobi Lane, Elijah Sarratt, Devontez Walker, LaJohntay Wester and the other receivers competing behind him.
Mark Andrews
Andrews remains one of Jackson's most trusted targets and an essential part of Baltimore's offense. The Ravens know what the veteran tight end can provide as a receiver and blocker.
Durham Smythe is also an established veteran who may not require an extended appearance. Josh Cuevas, Matt Hibner and Ty Pezza need the preseason work as they compete for reserve roles.
Ronnie Stanley
Stanley is entering his 11th season and remains the player Baltimore trusts to protect Jackson's blind side. Preserving his health is more valuable than giving him preseason snaps.
His absence would provide Carson Vinson, Gerad Lichtenhan, Diego Pounds and Emery Jones Jr. with significant work against Philadelphia's edge rushers.
Calais Campbell
Campbell is preparing for his 19th NFL season. Baltimore signed him for his production, leadership and ability to strengthen the defensive front, not to prove himself during the preseason.
At 39 years old, Campbell should receive most of his preparation during controlled practice periods. Rayshaun Benny, Aaron Graves, C.J. Okoye, David Olajiga and Dion Wilson Jr. will benefit from the additional snaps.
Nnamdi Madubuike
Madubuike underwent neck surgery during the offseason and has been working his way back into football activity. The Ravens should remain cautious with one of their most important defensive linemen.
Baltimore already knows Madubuike can create interior pressure. Aeneas Peebles, Broderick Washington Jr. and the other reserve defensive linemen have more to gain from facing the Eagles.
Trey Hendrickson
Hendrickson joined the Ravens to transform their pass rush after establishing himself as one of the NFL's most productive edge defenders. He doesn't need preseason sacks to validate his role.
The Ravens should use Saturday to evaluate the young players behind him. Mike Green, Kaimon Rucker, Ethan Burke, Tavius Robinson and rookie Zion Young need live reps as Baltimore determines how its edge rotation will operate.
Roquan Smith
Smith is the leader of Baltimore's defense and one of the NFL's best inside linebackers. The Ravens don't need to expose him to unnecessary contact.
Sitting Smith would give Trenton Simpson, Jay Higgins IV, Dominic DeLuca, Carl Jones Jr. and Reid Williford additional opportunities. Simpson is attempting to establish himself as the clear second linebacker, while the players behind him are competing for roster and special teams roles.
Kyle Hamilton
Hamilton could become the most versatile piece in Minter's defense. The coaching staff can align him at safety, in the slot or near the line of scrimmage without needing preseason confirmation that he can handle those responsibilities.
Baltimore should protect Hamilton while evaluating its safety depth. Malaki Starks, Jaylinn Hawkins, Keondre Jackson, K'Von Wallace, Jahquez Robinson and Silas Walters could handle most of the defensive snaps.
Marlon Humphrey
Humphrey entered camp healthy after dealing with pain throughout last season. The Ravens should prioritize keeping him that way.
The veteran cornerback has embraced Minter's technical changes, but those adjustments can continue during practice. T.J. Tampa, Amani Oruwariye, Keyon Martin, Robert Longerbeam and Baltimore's young defensive backs need the preseason opportunities.
Rashod Bateman
Bateman has produced a strong training camp and earned praise from wide receivers coach Keary Colbert. Baltimore could give him a brief appearance as he learns Doyle's offense.
Still, Bateman is an established starter entering his sixth season. With Flowers injured, the Ravens may decide that protecting their top two receivers is the smarter option.
Nate Wiggins and Chidobe Awuzie
Wiggins is entering his third season and has established himself as one of Baltimore's starting cornerbacks. A short appearance could help him prepare for Minter's system, but he doesn't need an extended workload.
Awuzie is a veteran newcomer who may benefit from playing a few series. Baltimore must build communication across a secondary that includes several new combinations. Once that work is complete, the Ravens can turn the game over to Tampa and the reserve corners.
Players who should see snaps
Tyler Huntley, Skylar Thompson and Joe Fagnano
If Jackson sits, Huntley and Thompson should handle most of the quarterback work. Their NFL experience allows Baltimore to operate the offense without changing its evaluation standards.
Fagnano has the most to gain. The undrafted rookie needs to demonstrate command of the huddle, sound decision-making and enough accuracy to justify continued development on the roster or practice squad.
Rasheen Ali and the young running backs
Ali enters the preseason with an opportunity to establish himself behind Henry and Hill. He must run decisively, protect the football, and contribute in the passing game.
Randall's size makes him one of the more intriguing newcomers on offense. Tau-Tolliver and McMillan are also fighting for opportunities, making the running back competition one of Saturday's most important evaluations.
Ja'Kobi Lane and Elijah Sarratt
Lane has already become one of Baltimore's biggest training camp stories. His contested catches, size and consistency have positioned him for a role alongside Flowers and Bateman.
The rookie still needs live game work. Saturday will show whether his camp production translates against defenders who haven't seen him every day.
Sarratt is adjusting to the precision required within Baltimore's offense. He should receive a significant workload as he competes with Walker, Wester, Chris Moore, Dayton Wade, Octavian Smith Jr., Xavier Guillory and the other reserve receivers.
Ethan Pocic, Danny Pinter and Nick Dawkins
Baltimore's center competition remains unsettled. Pocic brings starting experience and familiarity with the AFC North, but he still needs time to build chemistry with the Ravens' guards and quarterbacks.
Pinter, Dawkins, Jovaughn Gwyn and Corey Bullock are competing for reserve interior jobs. All should play meaningful snaps against Philadelphia.
Vega Ioane and Andrew Vorhees
Ioane is expected to become a starter, but the rookie needs game experience. Saturday will provide his first opportunity to handle NFL defensive linemen in live action.
Vorhees is attempting to reestablish himself after his return to Baltimore. John Simpson is the established veteran of the guard group and could sit or play briefly, leaving Ioane, Vorhees and the reserve linemen to handle most of the work.
Mike Green, Trenton Simpson and Malaki Starks
Green recorded 41 tackles and 3.5 sacks during his rookie season but needs to turn encouraging flashes into consistent production. He should receive enough work to establish his place in Baltimore's pass-rush rotation.
Trenton Simpson is competing for a prominent role next to Roquan Smith. Starks is entering his second season and should remain a major piece of the secondary. Both can benefit from repetition in Minter and Anthony Weaver's defense.
T.J. Tampa
Tampa has strengthened his case to become Baltimore's fourth cornerback. He has made plays on the football throughout camp and earned praise from his position coach.
The preseason opener represents his opportunity to make that role increasingly difficult to take away. Philadelphia should test him, giving the third-year cornerback the type of targets he needs to complete his evaluation.
Tyler Loop, Ryan Eckley and Nick Moore
Baltimore's specialists should play. Loop needs live field-goal attempts as he prepares for his second season, while Eckley will handle the punting duties.
Moore will continue working with both specialists as the Ravens establish consistency within their operation.
Final analysis
Minter's final plan could change based on player health and the quality of the week's practices. The safest projection is that Jackson and Baltimore's established stars sit while newcomers, rookies and unsettled starters receive most of the work.
Saturday won't reveal everything about the 2026 Ravens. It should provide the clearest picture yet of the players competing to support their stars.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Ravens starters who could sit against Eagles in the preseason opener
