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Bad news struck on the first day of training camp for the Ravens as second-year cornerback Iman Marshall was announced to have suffered a “major ACL injury” and is expected to miss the season.
Harbaugh said that CB Iman Marshall has a major ACL injury and needs surgery. So he’s presumably done for season. Hurt his knee yesterday.
— Jeff Zrebiec (@jeffzrebiec) August 17, 2020
Marshall was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft but saw little action as a rookie, spending a large portion of the season on injured reserve. Entering his second season, Marshall faced competition to make Baltimore’s roster at a loaded position. Whether he would have made the team or not, his injury leaves the Ravens with the potential to make a move to shore up depth at the position.
Can’t dwell on what already happened just have to keep pushing with God and faith by my side
— Faith (@iman_marshall8) August 17, 2020
Enter veteran CB Brandon Carr. Carr spent the last three seasons with the Ravens, but the team declined to pick up the option for his contract in 2020, making him a free agent. In those three years, Carr had six interceptions, two sacks, and 150 total tackles. The 34-year old has yet to be signed by another team, so a reunion with Baltimore would make sense given Marshall’s injury. The Ravens saved $6 million by declining to pick up Carr’s option, but he might be willing to sign a much cheaper deal to rejoin a team that is considered one of the top Super Bowl contenders in 2020.
Carr has yet to miss a game in his 12 seasons in the NFL with 192 consecutive starts, the longest active streak among defensive players. Carr’s resounding reliability is insanely valuable, especially at a position where players are known to drop like flies. Carr also proved his versatility last season as he transitioned to playing safety in certain defensive packages for Baltimore.
Carr would be fifth on the depth chart at CB, behind All-Pros Marlon Humphrey and Marcus Peters, veteran Jimmy Smith, and nickelback Tavon Young. Currently behind those four is third-year Anthony Averett, and second-year Terrell Bonds. Averett has started only three games in his career and Bonds has yet to play a snap in a regular-season game. With a shortened offseason of practice, a savvy veteran that knows the system might be the best option for the Ravens to fill out their depth chart at CB.