Ravens plan is for Eugene Monroe to start at left tackle

With recently acquired left tackle Eugene Monroe getting a full week of practice under his belt, all signs point to the former Jacksonville first-round pick earning a start Sunday against Green Bay.

"I would anticipate that he'll play quite a bit — possibly start," coach John Harbaugh told reporters Friday. "You might even say probably start at this point — that would be my anticipation right now. Unless something changes between now and then, he'll be the starter at left tackle, and we anticipate all those guys playing and being a part of the game plan. If you ask about Bryant [McKinnie], Bryant has had a very good week as well. We didn't practice him Wednesday just for soreness from the game and things like that. But he's practiced the rest of the time, and he looks good."

It was practically a given that this would be Baltimore's move, with McKinnie moving back to a backup role. Now it's on Monroe to see what he can do at the position, given he's just 26 years old and in a contract year. If he plays well the remainder of the season, the Ravens could lock him up for years to come.

If not, the organization may want to think of drafting a left tackle with its first-round pick in 2014.

McKinnie has reportedly moved on, spinning the demotion to mean it gives him some rest due to an unspecified knee injury.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Bryant mckinnie said he accepts the change said he had his left knee drained this week gave him time to rest</p>&mdash; Aaron Wilson (@RavensInsider) <a href="https://twitter.com/RavensInsider/statuses/388713962906193920">October 11, 2013</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Rest or not, the job is 100 percent Monroe's.