Ravens Offensive Tackle Named Player With Most To Prove This NFL Season

The 2021-22 NFL season was not particularly kind to the Baltimore Ravens, and their fans as the entire franchise had to deal with injuries across the board.

Their misfortunes began even when the first snap of Week 1 happened as they lost their entire running back group plus key contributors like cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Iman Marshall.

Hope was alive when, against all odds, the Ravens put up a record of 8-3 going into the second half of the season, but it finally caught up to them as they crashed and burned right out of the playoff picture when they had a six-game losing streak to close the season out.

Now with a renewed focus ahead of training camp, the Ravens are hoping for a much better start to their season and that includes offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley.

ESPN’s Jamison Hensley recently named Stanley as the Raven with the most to prove this season.

“[Stanley] only played in one full game since signing a five-year, $98.75 million contract in October 2020. A left ankle injury has sidelined him for 28 of Baltimore’s past 29 games (including playoffs), raising questions as to whether he will ever return to his All-Pro form,” Hensley wrote.

Hensley argued that this season is going to be make-or-break for the Notre Dame product because while his ability to block for 2019 unanimous MVP Lamar Jackson is great, his inability to stay on the field negates that skill.

“When he does return -- which likely won’t be early in training camp -- the pressure will be on Stanley to prove he’s one of the top tackles in the game. He will start camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list,” Hensley later added.

The Ravens did announce that Stanley--still recovering from ankle surgery last October 2021--will be on the PUP list ahead of next week’s training camp, but Ravens fans are certainly hoping he makes his way back to the field sooner rather than later.

Stanley received his first-ever Pro-Bowl and All-Pro selection in 2019 and this level of production allowed him to get the massive contract a year later.

As he works his way back to form, Stanley will be joined by Peters, running backs Gus Edwards and J.K. Dobbins, veteran linebacker Tyus Bowser, and rookie safety Ar’Darius Washington on the PUP list.

The Ravens have high expectations this year and how far they go will depend on Stanley’s ability to stay healthy.