Pre-game notes
Frank Walker, Corey Ivy, David Pittman and Ronnie Prude will get a lot of work tonight because half of the team's cornerbacks are not expected to play against the Atlanta Falcons.
Chris McAlister (swollen right knee), Samari Rolle (undisclosed), Fabian Washington (hamstring) and Derrick Martin (right shoulder) are sidelined. Also, free safety Ed Reed (shoulder) will not play.
Others not scheduled to play include linebackers Ray Lewis (undisclosed) and rookie Tavares Gooden (concussion), defensive tackle Kelly Gregg (arthroscopic knee surgery), running back Willis McGahee (arthroscopic knee surgery) and rookie wide receiver Marcus Smith (separated right shoulder).
Walker and Ivy will start at cornerback, Nick Greisen replaces Lewis, and Justin Bannan will fill in for Gregg. Rookie Tom Zbikowski is penciled in to start in place of Reed, but Jim Leonhard was introduced out of the tunnel with the starting defense.
On offense, rookie Joe Flacco gets his second consecutive start, and rookie Ray Rice replaces McGahee.
Comments
I hope the Ravens don't waste a roster spot on Ed Reed, waiting for his mysterious injury to heal and then realizing halfway through the season that he's not going to play at all this year. I say bite the bullet now and put him on IR for the year. Leonhard and the two rookies will do an adequate job. At least they've demonstrated the discipline to play within Rex's defensive system. More importantly, keeping Reed as a 5th safety means losing depth at another position. With uncertainty at quarterback and offensive tackle, plus lingering injuries to McGahee, Gregg and McAlister, waiting on Reed is a luxury this team can't afford.
Posted by: Ray | August 28, 2008 9:50 PM
Is why they picked up two safeties in the draft? I know they are good players and they have played special teams, but it just seems a bit ironic. I wonder how long they have know this.
Posted by: Mike | August 29, 2008 2:22 PM