Marshal Yanda

It’s game time again for the Baltimore Ravens as they prepare to take on the Jacksonville Jags in preseason game #3 at M&T Bank Stadium.

We can expect to see the starters on the field for most of the game; most are likely to play the first three quarters; it will give us a good idea of how the team will look during the regular season.

While head coach John Harbaugh would like to keep the starters in for most of the game, he will also play it by ear:

“We’ll just kind of work back from there with guys and as far as how many reps they get and see how it goes,” Harbaugh said. “I’d like to see them get a lot of good, extended work.”

Veteran players including linebacker Ray Lewis and safety Ed Reed are likely to see less playing time.

Guard Marshal Yanda may sit out, but his status has yet to be determined. Monday he had a “collision” during practice and left early. Outside linebacker Chavis Williams hit tight end Billy Bajema who then fell into Yanda’s lower leg. Even though Yanda rested this week, the team may take the cautious approach and sit him.

Linebacker Sergio Kindle left Friday’s practice early with a sprained shoulder. He’s been at practice this week, but only active in individual work, no 11-on-11 drills.

Safety Sean Constantine got “dinged” in last Friday’s game against the Detroit Lions. While he claims he wasn’t hurt, doctors have a different opinion. His injury is unknown and he may sit out of Thursday’s game.

Offensive linesman Jah Reid re-aggravated a calf injury he originally suffered during mini-camp.  He is unlikely to play.

Reid is anxious to play, but he knows he needs to give his calf more time to heal:

“It’s disappointing to not be out there helping the team,” Reid told The Baltimore Sun. “It’s aggravated right now. We’re working on it. Hopefully, I can be back soon. It’s not as bad as the first two times I hurt it. It just takes time. I thought I was going to be able to play, but I need to make more progress.”

BaltimoreRavens.com reporter John Eisenberg answered questions about what we can expect to see during the game.

When asked about the pass rush, he said “Beat the man in front of you”; something that hasn’t been happening in the preseason games, the coaches would like to see it happen.

I am curious to see how the starters fare in this game, I expect to see more improvements, they’ve been taking baby steps in their preseason games and it is time to step it up.