NEW ORLEANS — While New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton played many of his front-line players as he promised, Ravens coach John Harbaugh adhered to his normal script of playing no starters in the final preseason game.
In fact, several of the prominent Ravens didn't even travel with the team to New Orleans.
Some Ravens weren't in uniform, some weren't even at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and others were in uniform but weren't scheduled to play. Falling in one of those three camps were quarterback Joe Flacco, running backs Justin Forsett and Terrance West, wide receivers Steve Smith Sr., Kamar Aiken and Mike Wallace, center Jeremy Zuttah, right guard Marshal Yanda and starting tackles Ronnie Stanley and Rick Wagner, linebackers Terrell Suggs, Elvis Dumervil, C.J. Mosley, Zachary Orr and Albert McClellan, and defensive backs Jimmy Smith, Shareece Wright, Lardarius Webb and Eric Weddle.
The Ravens also had an extensive group of injured players who were held out. That group consisted of running back Kenneth Dixon (knee), tight ends Maxx Williams (back) and Dennis Pitta (finger), offensive guard John Urschel (contusion), outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith (ankle), nose tackle Brandon Williams (undisclosed) defensive backs Kendrick Lewis (undisclosed), Matt Elam (knee) and Jerraud Powers (undisclosed).
West gets nod: West (Northwestern High, Towson University) entered training camp firmly on the roster bobble. He was believed to be behind Forsett, Buck Allen and Dixon on the depth chart, and battling the likes of Lorenzo Taliaferro and Trent Richardson for a fourth tailback spot there was no guarantee the Ravens would employ.
However, while Taliaferro and Richardson dropped out of the competition due to injuries and Allen has struggled this summer, West has apparently earned a roster spot and he didn't even need the final preseason game to do it. West warmed up before the game and was in uniform, but he didn't see any action early as undrafted free agent Stephen Houston handled the load.
West entered the game second on the Ravens in the preseason with 25 rushes for 101 yards and two touchdowns to go along with three catches for 25 yards. It appears he'll factor in the Sept.11 regular-season game plan against the Buffalo Bills.
Forsett pitches in: Forsett wasn't in uniform Thursday night, but he made good use of his time while he was in Louisiana.
In partnership with United Way, Forsett spent part of the day in Baton Rouge, donating his time and money to relief efforts for the flood-ravaged city. Prolonged periods of rain and storms in southern Louisiana last month left 13 people dead and destroyed thousands of homes and businesses. The Red Cross called the floods the country's worst national disaster since Hurricane Sandy four years ago.
Forsett toured areas of the city and gave a 12-year-old boy his football cleats.
"Been down here in Baton Rouge for a couple of hours and I can say one thing for sure the people down here are amazing & resilient!!" Forsett wrote on his Twitter account.
In February, Forsett and former Ravens teammate Torrey Smith traveled to Flint, Mich., to deliver water and shower wipes as the city dealt with a water crisis.
Growing pains: As a rookie second-round pick, linebacker Kamalei Correa may have a sense of security about his standing with the team this fall. But the transition from Boise State to the Ravens has been a visible reminder for the linebacker of the chasm between the college ranks and the NFL.
"There's always room for improvement, and in my eyes, I always have to get better," Correa said last week. "It's really been a humbling experience just knowing that you're not as good as most people who have been playing in the NFL for a while. So it's really been very humbling. I just have to keep improving and keep getting better each and every day."
Correa has not factored into many plays this preseason. He is listed as the primary backup to Orr at inside linebacker, but has also spelled McClellan at the strong-side linebacker position.
Correa said he doesn't have a problem with the lack of a defined role, adding, "I'm a rookie. So I'm just going to do what's asked of me this year – whether that's asked to be a defensive player or a special-teams player. What if they throw me on offense for some crazy stuff? I'm just going to do what's asked of me and if that is me playing on defense with a lot more snaps, then I'm willing to accept the challenge."
End zone: Ravens second-year defensive lineman Carl Davis went in the locker room with an ankle injury early in the first quarter. … Quarterback Jerrod Johnson, who was let go by the Ravens on Monday as part of their roster cutdown to 75 players, was signed Thursday by the Dallas Cowboys. … Thursday marked the 20th anniversary of the Ravens' first ever game, a 19-14 victory over the Oakland Raiders at Memorial Stadium. … Paul Kruger, the former Ravens and Cleveland Browns linebacker who signed with the Saints on Wednesday, did not play. … Quarterback Drew Brees started and played one drive, leading the Saints to a field goal against a Ravens' defense mostly consisting of second and third teamers.
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