2 min read • August 18, 2023
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Baltimore has been active in the free agent market this offseason, recently adding two veteran defenders in addition to the key signing of Odell Beckham Jr.
On the surface it appears the team signed cornerback Ronald Darby to help fill the early season gap left by Marlon Humphrey’s foot surgery.
However, Darby is returning from an ACL tear he suffered in Week 5 last season and will not be 100% until the second half of the season.
He carries a SIC score of 51 for the season, indicating he may struggle in certain matchups if he plays early in the season.
The ACL is crucial to a player’s ability to cut and decelerate, two skills at the top of the list for cornerbacks to stay with shifty wide receivers.
Our panel of doctors are higher on OBJ’s health this season than Darby’s. Beckham – who re-tore his ACL in Super Bowl LVI - has had 18 months to recover compared to just over 10 months for Darby.
Wide receivers also typically have a faster recovery timeline than cornerbacks because they get to dictate where they are going instead of reacting to the offensive player.
The 29-year-old defensive back had 3 passes defended in 5 games last season and hasn’t had a pick since the 2019 season. He did have 53 combined tackles and 6 passes defended in 11 games with Denver in 2021.
With the Clowney signing the Ravens are essentially doubling down on their pass rush to help out the depleted secondary.
Clowney, 30, signed a one-year, $6 million deal to provide much-needed depth to the linebacker unit. The Ravens plan to start Odafe Oweh and David Ojabo off the edge, with Tyus Bowser recovering from offseason knee surgery.
The former Browns pass rusher finished with 2 sacks last season, but had 9 in 14 games the year prior.
Baltimore opens up with a home game against the Texans in Week 1.
The veteran cornerback underwent foot surgery in mid-August and will miss at least a month. While his exact foot injury remains unclear, the Pro Football Docs project he will be out beyond a month because of the position he plays. That could knock Humphrey out for at least the first three games of the season.
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CB Ronald Darby, who signed with the Ravens yesterday, is participating in his first practice with the team today
