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Thursday’s game against the Green Bay Packers may have done more damage than originally thought as The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec reports the Ravens are missing five linebackers on Saturday’s practice, including both starters and the presumed backup.
Ravens not practicing: RBs Gus Edwards, Kenneth Dixon (knee); WR-Seth Roberts; OL-Marshal Yanda (foot), Randin Crecilius, Greg Senat; LBs-Patrick Onwuasor, Kenny Young, Chris Board (concussion), Nicholas Grigsby, Mike Onuoha (wrist); DBs-Tavon Young (neck), Iman Marshall
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 17, 2019
Ravens top three ILBs not practicing: Onwuasor, Board and Young. Also backup ILB Nicholas Grigsby sidelined. Ravens' top 2 ILBs currently: Otaro Alaka and Alvin Jones.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 17, 2019
This puts Baltimore in a tough spot as inside linebacker continues to be harped on as the position with the fewest depth. Yes, there are three worthy starters between Patrick Onwuasor, Chris Board and Kenny Young but after these players, who all missed today’s practice, come a grouping of undrafted players and undrafted rookies. Baltimore is capable of building UDFAs into starters but that doesn’t occur overnight.
At the conclusion of today’s practice, Ravens’ head coach John Harbaugh addressed the media and spoke on the absence of Onwuasor and Kenny Young.
Harbaugh said that to his knowledge, Onwuasor and Kenny Young aren’t dealing with anything serious.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 17, 2019
This is somewhat positive, seeing as the number one and number three linebacker on the roster aren’t critically injured or expected to miss an extended period of time, though I still have concern when all three starters are absent. This is something to moniter in the days going forward, especially before the third preseason exhibition against the Philadelphia Eagles on Thursday, August 22.