Baltimore Ravens' 2024 season hype with Derrick Henry & Lamar Jackson is high, but July brings injury concerns for Zay Flowers. Can they overcome roster holes?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
The Baltimore Ravens' offseason has been a tale of two narratives. On one hand, the hype is palpable, with NFL analyst Rich Eisen already declaring new running back Derrick Henry a future Hall of Famer on Wednesday. The thought of 'King Henry' lining up behind Lamar Jackson is enough to give defensive coordinators nightmares. But as the calendar turns to July, the other narrative is becoming impossible to ignore: a series of critical injuries and glaring roster holes that could derail the championship chase before it even begins.
I just control what I can control. I try to show up every day and do what I can do. Whatever that leads to that is really out of my hands ultimately.
The buzz around the Ravens' offense reached a new peak this week as Rich Eisen proclaimed that Derrick Henry's ticket to Canton is already punched. It’s high praise that underscores the monumental expectations for Baltimore's ground game. Pairing a two-time rushing champion with a two-time MVP in Lamar Jackson creates arguably the most fearsome backfield in modern NFL history. The potential is limitless, and the Ravens are banking on this duo to be the engine that drives them through the AFC.
While the running game looks unstoppable on paper, the passing attack faces a significant question mark. Wide receiver Zay Flowers, who exploded onto the scene with a historic Pro Bowl season, is still recovering from a late-season knee injury suffered in Week 18. His dynamic, elusive playmaking became central to the offense, but his absence from several practices and uncertain status for the start of the 2025 season is a major concern. The Ravens need their star receiver at full strength to complement the ground-and-pound attack.
Perhaps the biggest red flag heading into training camp is the state of the offensive and defensive lines. The O-line is tasked with protecting a franchise QB and paving the way for a Hall of Fame RB, yet it's in a state of flux. The departures of guard Patrick Mekari and versatile lineman Josh Jones in free agency, coupled with the retirement of nose tackle Michael Pierce, have left gaping holes. The team is counting on a competition between Andrew Vorhees and Ben Cleveland to fill a starting guard spot, and their top offensive line draft pick, Emery Jones Jr., will miss the start of camp with a shoulder injury. These are not minor concerns; they are foundational issues that must be solved.
The injury bug hasn't spared the defense. The team suffered a devastating blow when safety Ar’Darius Washington, a key piece of the secondary, tore his Achilles and was lost for the entire 2025 season. His absence puts immense pressure on first-round pick Malaki Starks to contribute immediately alongside superstar Kyle Hamilton. Elsewhere, a fascinating position battle is brewing at inside linebacker between the athletic Teddye Buchanan and the experienced Trenton Simpson. Buchanan's 'control what I can control' mentality is exactly what the coaching staff wants to see as they look for new leaders to emerge on a defense that has lost key veterans.
The Ravens enter the heart of the summer with a clear identity: a team with immense star power and equally immense questions. The ceiling is a Lombardi Trophy, powered by the historic Jackson-Henry backfield. But the floor is a season derailed by injuries and an inability to win the battle at the line of scrimmage. How Zay Flowers recovers, how the new-look offensive line gels, and which young defenders step up will be the defining stories of this team's training camp. The hype is real, but so are the hurdles.
