Baltimore Ravens rookie Emery Jones Jr. lands on the NFI list before 2025 training camp, a major blow to the O-line. How will this setback affect the team?
StatPro NFL Beat Reporter
Just as the buzz for training camp was reaching its peak, the Baltimore Ravens hit their first official speed bump of the 2025 season. The team announced Thursday that rookie offensive tackle Emery Jones Jr., a promising third-round pick from LSU, has been placed on the Non-Football Injury (NFI) list, throwing an immediate wrench into the plans for a revamped offensive line.
One minute you're battling for a starting spot, the next you're watching from the sidelines. That's the brutal reality of the NFL preseason.
The culprit for Jones's move to the NFI list is a shoulder labrum injury. While the 'Non-Football Injury' designation might sound alarming, it simply means the injury occurred outside of team activities. The good news is that Jones can be activated at any time, and reports suggest the team is optimistic he'll be ready before the regular season. However, the timing couldn't be worse. Jones was expected to be a major contender in the battle for a starting tackle spot, and this injury effectively removes him from that competition for the foreseeable future, robbing him of crucial developmental reps.
As if one piece of unsettling news wasn't enough, a strange bit of drama surfaced involving the heart and soul of the defense, Roquan Smith. During a broadcast segment discussing the team's health, it was revealed that an anonymous NFL assistant 'brutally called out' the All-Pro linebacker. While the specifics of the criticism remain under wraps, it's the kind of sideline chatter that fuels a competitor like Smith. For a player who wears his passion on his sleeve and serves as the team's emotional leader, you can bet this anonymous jab will be stored away as bulletin board material heading into the season.
So, what's the takeaway from a whirlwind Thursday? The immediate concern is offensive line depth. With Jones sidelined, the pressure mounts on the veterans and other young players to solidify the tackle positions. The team needs to protect its franchise quarterback, and any uncertainty there is cause for concern. The Roquan situation, on the other hand, is likely just noise. Smith has proven his worth time and again, and a faceless critic isn't going to change his standing in the locker room or his impact on the field. If anything, it might just add an extra edge to his already ferocious play.
As players officially report and training camp gets underway, all eyes will be on two key areas: the offensive line and the injury report. We'll be watching closely to see who steps up in Jones's absence and how quickly the rookie can get back on the field. For now, the Ravens have been served a classic NFL reminder: the road to September is rarely a smooth one.
