Important Ravens roster battle draws closer to crowning its winner
On a team as talented as the Baltimore Ravens, most of the starters are known before camp begins. At the close of the 2024-25 NFL season, 11 players on the roster were named to the Pro Bowl team.
Every single one of those Pro Bowlers is back. Baltimore didn't sit idly. They drafted Malaki Starks and Mike Green. They added Jaire Alexander and DeAndre Hopkins.
When we discuss 'building the 53-man roster' on this squad, most of the unit is set. At most, this team is looking to fill out a few more spots, but early, there was some intrigue.
Head coach John Harbaugh informed everyone early that Andrew Vorhees and Ben Cleveland would duke it out for the starting left guard position. He then gave an update, one that seemingly seems stronger as camp and the competition have gone on.
Since John Harbaugh's proclamation, Andrew Vorhees still seems deserving of the Ravens' starting left guard position.
This won't shock most of you, as one of the discussions around camp all summer has involved conversations about how impressive Andrew Vorhees has been. A seventh-round draft choice in 2023, he would have been selected higher had he not torn his ACL during that year's NFL Combine.
The Ravens saw him as someone worth the investment, someone they'd take anyway and help heal. He was placed on the non-football injury list on August 29. He played 15 games in 2024, starting three of them, and now it appears the faith placed in him is paying off.
There you have it from the head coach back on August 2nd. Kudos to Cleveland for coming on strong, but Vorhees has looked good throughout camp, and he's only gotten stronger since this conversation.
An August 2nd proclamation seemed relatively early, but barring something unfortunate, Vorhees will hold on and remain the starter. There hasn't been much to change anyone's mind about that since Coach Harbaugh's theory, and as this team continues to gel, Vorhees seems to be settling into a job most thought might already be his.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
NFL Top 100: Green Bay Packers RB Josh Jacobs is No. 33, plays Arizona Cardinals in 2025
Packers RB Josh Jacobs is No. 33 in the 'NFL Top 100' and will play the Cardinals for the second straight year. The NFL continues to reveal players in the yearly offseason "NFL Top 100." Three Arizona Cardinals players made the list, with linebacker Josh Sweat at No. 95, tight end Trey McBride at No. 65 and safety Budda Baker at No. 34, making the list for the sixth straight year. Several players the Cardinals will face in 2025 continue to be revealed. Last week, in revealing players Nos. 31-40, No. 33 is someone the Cardinals will face in 2025. Player No. 33 is Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs. He was not in the top 100 last year. As a running back, "he can do it all," said Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, also in the top 100. "He can make you miss. He can stiff-arm you. He can run you over." Safety Xavier McKinney, Jacobs' teammate, called him "one of the best backs I've seen with my own eyes." Houston Texans linebacker E.J. Speed said, "Josh Jacobs is the most difficult running back to play." After five seasons with the Raiders, he rushed for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2024 in his first season with Green Bay. He made the Pro Bowl for the third time in his career. Last season, against the Cardinals, Jacobs had 62 rushing yards on 18 carries and three receptions for 28 yards in a 34-13 Green Bay win. In two career games against the Cardinals, he has not scored a touchdown and has 131 yards on 3.5 yards per carry. The Cardinals will face him and the Packers in Week 7 at State Farm Stadium. With a revamped defensive front, we will see if they can slow him down. 'NFL Top 100' opponents for Cardinals in 2025 Of the players in the top 100 revealed as of this week, the Cardinals face the following: Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
12 minutes ago
- USA Today
NFL Top 100: Dallas Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb is No. 35, faces Arizona Cardinals in 2025
The Cardinals will have to face Cowboys WR CeeDee Lamb in Week 9. He is No. 35 in the 'NFL Top 100'. The NFL continues to reveal players in the yearly offseason "NFL Top 100." Three Arizona Cardinals players made the list, with linebacker Josh Sweat at No. 95, tight end Trey McBride at No. 65 and safety Budda Baker at No. 34, making the list for the sixth straight year. Several players the Cardinals will face in 2025 continue to be revealed. Last week, in revealing players Nos. 31-40, No. 35 is someone the Cardinals will face in 2025. Player No. 35 is Dallas Cowboys receiver CeeDee Lamb. Lamb was No. 13 a year ago. Teammate Micah Parsons, a defensive end and No. 36 in the top 100, said that Lamb "is the best player I've ever seen in person." Recently retired safety Tyrann Mathieu said that Lamb "is one of the more physically gifted receivers in our league," noting his size and being able to "move like a little guy." Parsons pointed out, "He put up 1,200 yards while missing his quarterback," as Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott missed nine games. Lamb had 101 receptions and 1,194 yards and six touchdowns in 15 games. That sort of production without a great quarterback is something Cardinals fans will remember about Larry Fitzgerald. The Cardinals will face Lamb and the Cowboys in Week 9 on Monday night on the road. Lamb has not won a game in his career against the Cardinals, going 0-3. He has 14 receptions for 168 yards in those three games. It will be a big game on Monday night! 'NFL Top 100' opponents for Cardinals in 2025 Of the players in the top 100 revealed as of this week, the Cardinals face the following: Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe onSpotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Arizona Cardinals hold tryouts for 2 offensive linemen
The Arizona Cardinals appear likely to sign an offensive lineman on Wednesday. They released receiver Kelly Akharaiyi, opening a roster spot and held tryouts for a pair of interior linemen. According to the NFL transaction report, they had tryouts for Brady Latham and Dohnovan West. With rookie Hayden Conner suffering a knee injury in the Cardinals' preseason game on Saturday and with both starters and key backups not expected to play in the preseason finale, they likely want to make sure they have enough depth to make it through the game before final cuts. Latham is a 6-foot-5, 314-pound guard who went undrafted in 2024 out of Arkansas. He signed with the New York Jets, was cut in August and also spent time with the Cleveland Browns earlier this offseason. West is a center who played at Arizona State and went undrafted in 2022. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers after the draft and then did not make the final roster that year. We will see what the plan ends up being with the roster and these tryouts soon enough. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts. This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals hold tryouts for 2 offensive linemen
