OTL: 53-Man Prediction – Any Room for Ojabo?

Injuries and roster moves have shaken up the Ravens’ 53-man roster picture with a little over two weeks until cut-down day.

In case you missed the team’s August transactions, here’s a quick overview:

August 2

Waived OLB Diwun Black, K John Hoyland and TE Sam Pitz

Neither Black nor Pitz stood out since signing in Baltimore as undrafted rookies. Hoyland was consistent in camp, but he was always facing an uphill battle against sixth-round pick Tyler Loop and his powerful leg.

Signed Baylor Cupp, TE Scotty Washington and DE Brent Urban

Cupp and Washington added crucial preseason depth at tight end and could contribute as run blockers and special teamers until Isaiah Likely comes back.

Urban had been in touch with the Ravens throughout the offseason and decided he wanted to come back for his age-34 season.

August 3

Waived OT Ozzie Hutchinson

Hutchinson got torched by David Ojabo in several pass-blocking reps this summer. The UDFA OT just doesn’t have the short area quickness to hold the edge in the NFL.

Signed RB D’Ernest Johnson

Johnson was a depth signing to absorb preseason snaps with Marcus Major still progressing through concussion protocol. He got a lot of run in the Colts game and will likely play a similar role until roster cuts.

August 10

Placed CBs Robert Longerbeam and Bilhal Kone on IR

Kone suffered a torn ligament in his knee against the Colts and will spend the season rehabbing in Baltimore. Longerbeam reportedly suffered a torn patellar tendon, but Harbaugh refused to confirm that after Monday’s practice.

Signed CB M.J. Devonshire and RB Myles Gaskin

Devonshire adds depth to a beleaguered cornerback room, and Gaskin will allow Keaton Mitchell to stay on the sidelines for the next two preseason games.

Now, over to the roster:

Quarterback (2)

Roster lock: Lamar Jackson, Cooper Rush

Practice squad candidate: Devin Leary

Nothing new here. Rush will back up Jackson and Leary will be QB3 on the practice squad.

Running back (4)

Roster lock: Derrick Henry, Justice Hill, Keaton Mitchell

Bubble-IN: Rasheen Ali

Practice squad candidates: Marcus Major, D’Ernest Johnson, Myles Gaskins

Ali practically marched the Ravens down the field for a touchdown on his own against the Colts, including a 69-yard return that showed he can be a factor in special teams. Baltimore runs the ball often enough that it’s worth keeping an extra running back on the roster, especially one who can partner with Mitchell on kick returns.

Tight End/Fullback (4)

Roster lock: Mark Andrews, Isaiah Likely, Charlie Kolar, Patrick Ricard

Practice squad candidates: Lucas Scott, Zaire Mitchell-Paden, Scotty Washington, Baylor Cupp

If Likely needs to go on IR as he rehabs from foot surgery, the Ravens could opt to keep an extra run-blocker like Mitchell-Paden on the 53. However, they could still probably get by with practice squad elevations and might use the extra spot on another position facing a roster crunch.

Wide Receiver (6)

Roster lock: Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, DeAndre Hopkins, Tylan Wallace, Devontez Walker

Bubble-IN: LaJohntay Wester

Bubble-OUT: Anthony Miller, Dayton Wade, Keith Kirkwood

Practice squad candidates: Malik Cunningham, Keith Kirkwood, Xavier Guillory, Jahmal Banks

Wester appeared to sew this one up with a pair of excellent returns against the Colts, including an 87-yard touchdown, and flashed as a receiver too. He looked better in the game than he has during camp, where Wade has made more plays on offense, but that special teams impact will make a huge difference, provided he doesn’t make any major mistakes for the rest of the preseason. Miller and Kirkwood are both excellent vets who can be asked to contribute on offense or special teams when activated from the practice squad.

Offensive Line (10)

Roster lock: Ronnie Stanley, Tyler Linderbaum, Roger Rosengarten, Daniel Faalele, Andrew Voorhees, Carson Vinson, Ben Cleveland

Non-football injury list: Emery Jones

Bubble-IN: Garrett Dellinger

Too close to call: Nick Samac vs. Corey Bullock for the backup center job

Practice squad candidates: Darrian Dalcourt, Jared Penning, Reid Holskey, Gerad Lichtenen

Jones seems poised to start (and even spend) the year on the NFI list, which might be the best thing for the Ravens. It would allow them to keep Vinson as a purely developmental player who, ideally, won’t play at all as a rookie.

Samac and Bullock appear to be battling for a roster spot as the primary backup to Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum. Bullock got the starting nod against the Colts, but Samac looks like he’s made strides since his rookie season. The next two preseason games will be crucial in deciding this battle.

Dellinger, meanwhile, would be a risky cut and may not make it through waivers. While he did fall to the end of the draft in April, other teams’ offensive line injuries in training camp could lead them to grab the tough, experienced young guard out of LSU.

Interior Defensive Line (5)

Roster lock: Nnamdi Madubuike, Travis Jones, Broderick Washington, Aeneas Peebles

Too close to call: DL5 battle between Brent Urban, John Jenkins, C.J. Okoye and C.J. Ravenell

Bubble-OUT: Adedayo Odeleye, Jayson Jones

I predicted a veteran signing in my early 53-man roster prediction and got two: Urban, who I mentioned, and Jenkins, who I didn’t. That has complicated the picture in the D-line room. The Ravens need a backup nose tackle – either Jenkins or Okoye – but Urban is a trusted vet and Ravenell has looked great in back-to-back summers.

It would be surprising if Urban re-signed with the Ravens not to have a role this year, so he will likely stick around, potentially through a handshake deal to come back after initial cuts. He could even hang on the practice squad until a spot on the 53-man opens up. The same could go for Jenkins if the Ravens are concerned that another team will claim Okoye off waivers. Ravenell seems like a certain and unfortunate victim of this roster crunch, as the Ravens normally keep five DL.

Edge Defender (5)

Roster lock: Odafe Oweh, Kyle Van Noy, Mike Green, Tavius Robinson, Adisa Isaac

Bubble-OUT: David Ojabo, Malik Hamm

Longshot: Kaimon Rucker

David Ojabo hasn’t done quite enough to merit a roster spot with three talented, younger Day 2 picks ahead of him, all with multiple years left on their contract. At times, Hamm has looked like the player who made the 53 in 2023, but the roster math is stacked against him.

Linebacker (4)

Roster lock: Roquan Smith, Trenton Simpson, Teddye Buchanan

Too close to call: ILB4 battle Jake Hummel vs. Chandler Martin vs. Jay Higgins

Longshot: William Kwenkeu

Hummel only playing 10 snaps against the Colts may have indicated that his roster spot as a core special teamer was fairly safe, but Martin and Higgins both made a strong impression with a handful of splash plays. Hummel has a leg up, especially given how early he signed in Baltimore this offseason, but the undrafted rookies could push him over the next few weeks. Even Kwenkeu has looked solid on a number of occasions.

Cornerback (6)

Roster lock: Marlon Humphrey, Nate Wiggins, Jaire Alexander, Chidobe Awuzie, Jalyn Armour-Davis, T.J. Tampa

Season-ending IR: Bilhal Kone, Robert Longerbeam

Longshot: Keyon Martin, Marquise Robinson

Season-ending injuries to Kone and Longerbeam and solid preseason performances from Armour-Davis and Tampa have clarified the cornerback room. It’s definitely a disappointment to lose both drafted cornerbacks before the season even starts, but they were late Day 3 picks with minimal expected impact as rookies anyway.

Safety (4)

Roster lock: Kyle Hamilton, Malaki Starks, Sanoussi Kane, Beau Brade

PUP list: Ar’Darius Washington

Too close to call: S4 battle between Beau Brade vs. Reuben Lowery

Longshot: Desmond Igbinosun, Keondre Jackson

The Ravens hosted Jordan Whitehead for a visit recently, and if he signs, he’d likely be the team’s fourth safety. For now, though, Brade has to hold off a surging Lowery, who has been an active playmaker since the spring in a hybrid safety/nickel role. He’ll need to show that he can match Brade’s special teams prowess and should get plenty of opportunities in the next two games.

Special Teams (3)

Roster lock: Jordan Stout, Nick Moore, Tyler Loop

Loop seems to have wrapped this one up with some big kicks early in camp, including a stellar day at the stadium practice. Like Wester, he’s done enough to earn his spot, but he could still lose it if the mistakes pile up.

The post OTL: 53-Man Prediction – Any Room for Ojabo? appeared first on Russell Street Report.

Source: https://russellstreetreport.com/2025/08/12/out-to-lunch/53-man-prediction-ojabo/