Can Ravens' Offense Succeed Without Ronnie Stanley?
The Baltimore Ravens aren't exactly healthy heading into their Monday Night battle against the San Francisco 49ers.
Wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. finally made his way to the practice field on Friday after dealing with an illness, but it's their All-Pro left tackle that has caused the biggest amount of concern.
Ronnie Stanley has dealt with a knee injury for most of the 2023 season, but a concussion suffered in Sunday Night's 23-7 has left the former sixth overall pick in danger of missing the game of the year on Christmas Day.
If Stanley doesn't go, the most important position on the offensive line will have a hole against arguably the best pass rush in all of football. Former Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa usually attacks from the right side of the line, but with the 49ers acquiring Chase Young in a trade deadline move to bolster the pass rush, it's not just Bosa that the Ravens have to worry about.
The immediate backup to Stanley would be Patrick Mekari. The undrafted free agent in 2019 has started seven games this season while Stanley has gone through his knee issues. Pro Football Focus has graded his season at an above-average 66.2.
Should Stanley not play, the question becomes if Baltimore's offensive line can protect Lamar Jackson long enough to move the ball downfield against an even better San Fran secondary.
Mekari has been a serviceable swing tackle, but this would be a different assignment than what he is used to. The idea of Young and Bosa attacking Jackson consistently on the edge won't be a pleasant thought for head coach Jim Harbaugh or any of Baltimore's fanbase.
If they are going to win and supplant themselves as the best team in football, though, they'll need to find a way to win without their best lineman.
