Following a letdown performance for the Baltimore Ravens last week in Philadelphia, the sights have now been set on Saturday night’s home matchup against the Washington Redskins.
The third preseason game is the final dress rehearsal for the players who will mostly make up the final 53-man roster, and how the team plays against the Redskins may offer the best glimpse at what caliber of a squad will be present when the Ravens travel to Denver to take on the Broncos in two weeks.
Plenty of roster battles are still far from settled, leaving plenty to watch for against Washington.
What story lines should fans be following on Saturday night?
Can Joe Flacco rebound?
A putrid performance against the Eagles (3/7, 23 yards, two interceptions) has left Flacco looking to bounce back this week during a game in which he promises to see extensive playing time.
After starting the preseason off strong against New Orleans, Flacco looked flustered and wildly inaccurate against Philadelphia, and must turn in a more consistent performance in order to build momentum heading into the regular season.
Who steps up in Lorenzo Taliaferro‘s absence?
An MCL sprain has put Taliaferro’s readiness for the regular season opener in doubt, which may open the door for either Terrance Magee or Fitz Toussaint to stick around on the final roster until Taliaferro is healthy.
Magee was the team’s workhorse against the Eagles, carrying the ball 11 times for a team-high 44 yards. The undrafted rookie from LSU is a thickly built, smooth runner who could latch on with the team while Taliaferro recovers.
Will there be more clarity at wide receiver?
Through two preseason games, what progress has really been made in the roster battle at wide receiver? The locks seem to be Steve Smith Sr., Breshad Perriman and Kamar Aiken, with an open competition still ongoing.
Baltimore’s best three options behind the top three appear to be Marlon Brown, Darren Waller and Michael Campanaro, but quite frankly no backup receiver has noticeably separated himself from the pack just yet.
Strong performances by the three aforementioned players vying for a roster spot, as well as Jeremy Butler, against Washington could solidify their placing on the final roster.
How Terrence Brooks‘ return affects safety competitionÂ
With Brooks’ return to the practice field occurring sooner than expected, he promises to be on the team’s final roster at the end of training camp, closing the door on for young backups who once had better roster hopes when Brooks was on the PUP list.
The two safeties in biggest danger of being on the outside looking in are Brynden Trawick and undrafted rookie Nick Perry. If the Ravens, as expected, keep four safeties, neither of the two figure to remain with the team beyond the preseason.
But keep an eye on Perry, as favorable showings in the final two preseason games would surely net him a spot on the practice squad.
