Baltimore’s most accomplished edge rusher, Trey Hendrickson, has been officially ruled out for their Week 4 matchup against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. This isn’t just a minor ding, either: Hendrickson’s finger injury kept him from practicing all week, making Friday’s designation unsurprising despite him playing through the issue during their 34-31 victory over the Dallas Cowboys.
The “Centerpiece” Is Missing
This is a huge deal, folks. This will be Hendrickson’s first missed game since he joined the Ravens this offseason on that massive four-year, $112 million deal. He’s a four-time Pro Bowl selection, and even with what looks like modest totals on paper,one sack, three quarterback hits, and one tackle for loss through three games,his impact stretches way beyond those numbers. Why? Because offenses have to account for his insane first step and his ability to win from pretty much any alignment. The Ravens’ pass rush has already been a bit up and down, with just five sacks as a team so far, and only one against Dak Prescott last week. They did get seven quarterback hits in Brazil, but finishing those pressures has been a real issue. Hendrickson’s absence takes out the one guy who consistently turns disruption into sacks. Who’s gonna step up now?
Depth Chart Shake-Up and a Dangerous QB
So, with Hendrickson out, it’s time for the younger guys to earn their keep. Look for Tavius Robinson, Mike Green, Zion Young, and Ethan Burke to get more snaps on the edge. Robinson actually leads the Ravens with two sacks and six quarterback hits, while Green and Roquan Smith each have a sack too. But the pressure won’t just be on the edge rushers. Baltimore’s interior defenders like Calais Campbell, who had six pressures against Dallas, and Nnamdi Madubuike, who played 47 snaps in his season debut, are gonna be crucial. Their ability to collapse the pocket could create cleaner opportunities for the younger guys on the outside. And they better be ready, because Tennessee’s Cam Ward has been protected way better than he was in his rookie season. He’s only been sacked five times in three games and wasn’t even touched during last week’s loss to the New York Giants. Without Hendrickson, Ravens defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver is gonna have to get creative, manufacturing pressure through overloads, simulated rushes, and Kyle Hamilton’s versatility. But they can’t get reckless. Ward has been way more productive late in games, which means coverage discipline is just as important as getting him off his spot.
The Ravens have enough depth to disrupt Tennessee, absolutely. But that depth is gonna have to produce big-time without the centerpiece of their entire offseason pass-rush overhaul. This Sunday, we’re gonna see what they’re really made of.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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